IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WeST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  S72-4S03 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historicai  fVlicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographlques 


The  institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
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the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 
D 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I     I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag^e 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  peliicul^e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gtographiques  en  couleur 

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Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I     I   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


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Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
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Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
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lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
male,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  flimtes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
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point  de  vue  bibllographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqute  ci-dessous. 


I — I   Coloured  pages/ 


n 

n 
0 
n 

n 
0 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagtes 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur6es  et/ou  peliicuiies 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
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Comprend  du  materiel  suppi^mentaire 

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obtenir  la  meiiieure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

v^ 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  hes  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
g6n4ro8it4  de: 

BibiiothAque  nationaie  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
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plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
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the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exempiaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim6e  sont  fiimis  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impresslon  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exempiaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impresslon  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  appara?tra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — <►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cllch6,  il  est  filmA  d  partir 
de  i'angie  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


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AMOirG  TEE  PJDJAN-  TRIBES 


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OK  TUB 


CATHOLIC  MISSIONS 


AMONG    TIIK 


IMUAN  TRIBES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


1529—1854. 


M  JOHN  GILMAKY  SHEA, 

▲UTIIOR  OF  THE  "DISOOVEKY   AN»   KXI'LOIIATION   OK  THE   MISSISSIPPI," 

MEMBER  OF  THE  IHSTOIUt'AI.  SOCIETIES  OF   NEW    VOUK, 

ILLINOIS,   AND  LOUISIANA. 


P 


-;:■-»■ 


NEW   YORK: 
EDWARD    D  U  N  1(J  A  X    &    B  R  O  T  II  E  K , 

161   FULTON  STUKKT,   NKAK    HKOADWAV. 
*  ""  1855. 

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I-       V 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  ISM, 

By  Edwaud  Dunioan  <Sc  Brotueb, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 

District  of  New  York. 


TO  Ills   HOLINESS 


POPE     PIUS     IX. 


r 


SUTREME    HEAD    OF    THE    CATHOLIC    CHUKCH, 


the  Southern 


Tlllrt    II  IS  TORY     OK 


A    PORTION    OF    HIS    FOLD 


IS 


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KESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED 


AND  SUBMITTED. 


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India 


CONTENTS. 


rnir AC! , Taor    IB 

INTRODUCTOUY    CHAPTER. 

Dcsl^rn  of  Providence  In  tlio  iliscovery  of  Atnorica— Tlio  Missions — State  of  the  oonntry, 
political  and  social— Obstacles  to  conversion— Catholicity— Her  religious  Orders — 
Plans  and  action 19 


NORWEGIAN  MISSIONS  IX  NEW  ENGLAND. 

Discoveries  of  tlie  Irish  and  Xorwegians  in  Iceland,  Greenland,  and  other  parts  of  North 
America— Introduction  of  Christianity— Settlement  of  Vinland— Various  missionaries 
sent  to  that  country— Ruins 88 

SPANISH  MISSIONS  IN  NEW  MEXICO,  FLORIDA,  TEXAS,  AND 

CALIFORNIA. 

CHAPTER   I. 

EAULT   ATTEMPTS   IN   VARIOUS   PARTS. 

The  Franciscans  under  Bishop  Juarez  in  Florida— Father  Mark  in  the  Oila  Valley — 
Father  Padilla  in  that  of  the  Kio  Grande— His  devotedncss  and  death — Missionariea 
•with  De  Soto  in  Florid*— Successful  mission  of  Father  Andrew  de  Olmoa  in  Texas — 
Heroic  enterprise  of  the  Dominican  Father  Cancer— His  glorious  death  In  Florida— 
The  shipwrecked  missionaries — Mystery  as  to  Father  John  Ferrer — Dominicans  in 
West  Florida  and  Alabama  with  Don  Tristan  de  Luna 89 


CHAPTER    II. 

,  FLORIDA   MISSIONS. 

Florida  colonized  by  Melendez— Indian  missions  attempted  by  the  Dominicans  in 
Virisinia— Missions  actually  begun  by  the  Jesuits— Death  of  Father  Martinez—Labors 
of  F.  Boger  and  others  in  the  Peninsula  and  in  Georgia— Difficulties  and  trials- 
Indian  school  at  Havana— Arrival  of  a  Yirginian  chief— Mission  proposed — F.  Begura 


;, 


I 


6  CONTENTS. 

and  his  companions  sail  for  tho  Chesnpcake— Treachery  of  the  chief— Tlie  mifisiunaries 
are  put  to  deatli — End  of  the  Jesuit  mission — The  Franciscans  appear— Regular 
missions  begun — Philological  labors  of  I'areja — Various  missions  of  the  Fatliers — 
Sudden  plot,  the  mlssionarios  put  to  death— Restoration  of  tlio  Florida  mission . .    53 


CHAPTER    III. 

FLORIDA   MISSION — (CONTINUED.) 

New  missions— The  Apalaches — Troubles  in  the  settled  missions— English  destroy  the 
missions — Attempt  to  restore  them — State  of  tlie  country  at  tlie  cession  to  England — 
Ruin  of  tho  missions— Tho  Scmiuolcs 72 


CHAPTER    IV. 


MISSIONS   IN    NEW   MEXICO. 


Attempt  of  Brother  Alphonsus  Rodriguez — Death  of  the  missionaries— Oiiate's  expedi- 
tion—Franciscan mission  established  by  Martinez — Its  early  struggles — Account  of 
mission  given  by  Benavides  in  1C30— Decline— Restoration  in  1660 — Revolt  In  16S0 — 
Villasenor's  accoant  in  1740— Present  state 76 


CHAPTER    V. 

MISSIONS     IN     TEXAS. 

French  Recollects  in  Texas  with  La  Salle — Their  fato— Spanish  missions — Plan  of  these 
missions — Their  suspension — Restoration  in  1717 — Villasefior's  account — Their  de- 
structio^i  In  1813— Present  state 84 


CHAPTER   VI. 

CALIFORNIA     MISSIONS. 

Discovery  of  California— Early  missionary  attempts— Jesuit  missions  founded  in  Lower 
California  by  Father  Salvaticrra — Suppression  of  the  Jesuits — Franciscans  succeed 
them  in  California — They  commence  some  missions  in  Upper  California,  and  resign 
Lower  California  to  the  Dominicans— Tlie  various  missions  founded  by  Father  Juni- 
per Serra 83 


CHAPTER    VII. 

CALIFORNIA   MISSION — (CONTINUED.) 

Father  Palon,  Prefect  Apostolic— Sketch  of  a  California  mission — Missions  of  Santa  Bar- 
bara, Santa  Crua,  and  Soledad  founded— Father  Lazven  prefect— Missions  founded  in 
his  time — State  of  mission  during  the  civil  war — The  republic — It  plunders  the  mis- 
sions, and  expels  the  Fathers — Rapid  decline  of  the  missions— California  taken  by  tho 
AmericAns-'Close  of  the  missions 104 


l: 


contp:ni's.  7 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

GENEBAL   VIEW   OF   THE   SPANISH   MISSIONS. 

Plans  of  the  Spanish  missionaries — Failure  of  the  original  method — The  reduction  sys- 
tern — Complainta  and  charges  against  it — Its  effect  on  the  Indians — Its  complete 
success 115 

THE  FiraCH  MISSIONS. 

CHAPTER   I. 

General  view  of  the  French  missions— Jesuits  at  Port  Royal— Recollects  at  Quebeo— 
Great  Jesuit  mission  of  Canada — Its  rapid  progress,  and  great  extent — Labors  of  tho 
priests  of  the  Foreign  missions  and  Sulpitians — Division  of  the  subject 123 

CHAPTER   II. 

THE     ABNAKI     JillSSION. 

The  Abnakis— First  Jesuit  mission  under  Father  Biard— Its  dilflculties — St  Savior's 
founded— Its  destruction  by  Argal— Recollect  missions — Capuchins — New  Jesuit  mis- 
sion under  Druillettes— Ilis  sufferings  and  success  in  Maine— His  embassies  and  later 
missions 129 


CHAPTER    III.  • 

ABNAKI   MISSION — (CONTINUED.) 

Abnakis  at  Sillery— Bigot  founds  tho  Chaudi6re  mission — The  Bigots  in  Maine— Thury 
at  Penobscot — Father  Simon  on  the  St  John's — Fervor  of  the  Neophytes — The  Jesuits 
—Rale  and  his  mission — Death  of  Thury— New  mission  of  St  Francis— Attempts  on 
Rale's  life— Mission  of  Becancour— Wrongs  of  the  Indian— Cruel  murder  of  Rale.  14'i 

CHAPTER   IV. 

ABNAKI   MISSION — (CONTINUED.) 

The  mission  at  Norridgewalk  restored — Lauvergat  leaves  the  Penobscot— Father  Ger- 
main, the  last  Jesuit  missionary — The  French  war — The  Abnakis  during  tho  Revolu- 
tion— Orono — They  apply  to  Bishop  Carroll — Mr.  Ciquard— Mr.  afterwards  Cardinal 
Cheverus— Later  missionaries— The  Jesuits  again  at  the  grave  of  Rale — Present  state 
of  the  tribe , 153 

CHAPTER    V. 

THE     HURON     MISSION. 

The  Huron  nation— Their  manners — Language — Religion— Their  acquaintance  with  tho 
French — ^The  Recollect  Le  Caron  founds  the  mission— Sagard  and  Vie! — Unexpected 
murder  of  Viel — The  Jesuits — Mission  renewed — The  Recollect  Dallion  among  tho 
Attiwandaronk— The  Jesuit  Brebeuf  among  the  Hurons— Tho  difficulties  of  the  col- 
ony—The missionaries  recalled— Touching  scene — Capture  of  Quebec  by  the  renegade 
Plrk- End  of  tjje  first  pilssion- Philological  labors  of  the  Fathers 16^ 


8 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

milON    MI.SSIOX — (roNTINL'EU.) 

Mission  rostorofl — Tlio  .Icsuits  aloiio  return  on  tlie  rcfusiil  of  tlie  (\ipnchins — Brebenf, 
Daniel,  and  Davost  aindnp;  tlio  llurons — Mission  of  f?t,  Joseph  at  llionatiria— Mi>sion 
system — Now  missionaries  and  new  missions — Huron  colicf.'e  at  (Quebec — The  voj-airea 
of  tlie  Fatliers — Tlieir  trials — Tiie  pestileuco— Tiio  first  convert — Tliey  are  suspected 
—  I'lots  a;raii!St  tlieir  lives — Courage  of  JJrebeuf  and  Ids  associates— New  mission  ot  !?t. 
iIoseplTs  at  Teananstayae — Mission  at  Ossossane,  Scanonacnrat,  Taenliateutaron,  and 
r.iiionsr  tlie  Tionontatos — New  persecution 172 

CHAPTER    VII. 

HURON'   MISSION — (CONTINUED.) 

Plan  of  the  mission  changed — St.  Mary's  founded — Mission  of  St.  John — The  neighbor- 
ing Algonquins — Krebeuf  and  Cliaumonot  among  the  Attiwaiidaronk — Gradual  jiro- 
gress  of  the  faith — The  Christians  styled  Marians — The  Algonquin  missions — The 
Iroquois  war — Capture  of  Fathers  Jogiies  and  llressani — Increased  fervor — Mission 
plan  again  changed — A  moment  of  peace — The  war  renewed — Teananstayae  de- 
stroyed, and  Daniel  killed— Panic  of  the  llurons — Towns  deserted — St.  Louis  and  St. 
Ignatius  destroyed— Death  of  Brebeuf  and  Lalemant — Iluin  of  the  llurons — The 
Scanonacnrat  remove  to  New  York — Others  llee  to  ditferent  tribes — St.  Mary's  burnt, 
and  mission  removed  to  St.  Joseph's  Isle — The  Petun  towns  attacked — Death  of 
Garnier  and  Chabanel — A  considerable  body  descend  to  Quebec 131 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

IIUllON   MISSION — (concluded.) 

The  llurons  at  Quebec — Father  Cliaumonot  and  his  labors — Troubled  by  the  Iroquois— 
Subsequent  history — Present  state— llurons  of  St.  Joseph's  Isle— Their  division — llu- 
rons at  Mackinaw — Menard  dies  on  liis  way  to  their  camp  on  Green  Bay — Allouez  at 
Chcgoimegon — Marquette — lieturn  to  Mackinaw  in  consequence  of  Sioux  war — 
Mission  of  St.  Ignatius — Its  history — liemoval  to  Detroit — Sandusky  and  Indian  Ter 
ritory — General  view lOg 

CHAPTER   IX. 

TIIEIUOCiUOIS     MISSION. 

The  Kecollects  design  an  Iroquois  mission— One  of  them,  Father  Poulain,  a  captive — 
The  Huron  war— Captivity  of  Father  .Jogues — His  escape- Kindness  of  the  Dutch — 
Captivity  of  Father  Bressani— His  ransom— Peace— F.  Jogues  returns  to  Canada,  is 
Bent  as  envoy  to  the  Mohawks — Concludes  the  negotiations — He  founds  the  mission 
— His  glorious  death 205 

CHAPTER    X. 

IROQUOI3   MISSION — (CONTINUED.) 

Captivity  of  Father  Poncet— Proposals  of  peace— Treaty  concluded— Lo  Moyno  visits 
Onondaga— Mission  projected— Father  Chaumonotand  Father  Dablon  are  sent— Their 
mission  at  Onondaga— Its  success— Jealousy  of  the  Indians— Dablon  returns— Le 
Moyne  on  the  Mohawk— His  dangers  and  his  tolls 218 


CONTENTS. 


9 


CHAPTER    XI. 

OLU     LADY     OK     GAXENTAA. 

Mission  at  Onondaga — A  French  colony — llouso  and  chapel  erected  at  St.  Mary's  of 

Ganentaa— Spread  of  the  faith — Missions  among  tlio  Oneidas,  Cayugas,  and  Sonecas 

— lieinforcement  of    apostolic    laborers — Hopes  of  ultimate  success  in    convertinj; 

.  tiie  cantons— Sudden  plot — Overthrow  of  the    missions — Wonderful  cscai)c  of  the 

Fathers 2'iS 


CHAPTER    XII. 

moQtoi.s  MISSION — (continued.) 

Oataconti6,  tlio  friend  of  the  missions — His  protection — Embassy  to  Quebec — Mission 
renewed — Fatlier  Simon  le  Moyne  again  at  Onondaga — lietaiiied  till  the  spring — His 
labors  during  the  winter — His  dangers— Garacontie  absent — Mission  at  Cayuga — 
IJeturn  to  Montreal — His  character  and  death— Garacontic  again— Conversion  of  a 
Seneca  chief — Negotiations — Missionaries  asked  and  promised— Muhawk  war— Gen- 
eral peace 242 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

IROQUOIS    mission (CONTINUED.) 

Period  of  peace — Missions  projected  and  begun  in  all  the  cantons— Mission  at  Quint6 
Bay— The  Sulpitians— Father  Fremin  sent  to  tlie  Mohawk  with  Bruyas  and  Picrron 
—Mission  founde<l— Zeal  of  Huron  Christians— Converts  to  the  faith — Bruyas  founds 
the  Oneida  mission— Gamier  restores  that  of  Onondaga,  is  joined  by  Milet  and  de  Car- 
hell,  and  founds  that  of  Cayuga— Fremin,  in  the  West,  founds  the  mission  of  the 
Senecas— Conversion  of  Mary  Ganneaktena  at  Oneida— She  founds  the  Christian 
village  of  Laprairic 253 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

IUOQUOI3   MISSION — (CONTINUED.) 

The  Mohawk  mission— Pierron  and  his  labors— His  paintings — Cards— Invokes  the 
aid  of  the  English  governor  in  repressing  the  liquor-trade— Success  at  Caughnawaj<a — 
Father  Boniface— The  feast  of  the  dead— Triumph  of  Pierron— Idolatry  abolished— 
Conversions — Peter  Assendase— Fervent  women— Notre  Dame  de  Foye— Death  of 
Boniface— Conversion  of  Kryn,  tlie  great  Mohawk— Emigration  to  Canada— Catharine 
Tebgabkwita — Iler  piety— Departure— Later  missionaries — Close  of  the  mission . .  203 

CHAPTER    XV. 

IROQUOIS   MISSION— (continued.) 

I.   Tns  Oneida   Mission — Its    sterility — Conferences— Conversions — Milet   succeeds 

Bruyas— His  long  apostolate. II.  The  Onondaga  Mission— Garnler  and  his  labors 

—Milet— His  skill  and  success— Advice  of  Garacontio— Overthrow  of  worship  of 
Agreskou6— Meeting  of  Iroquoi* missionaries  at  Onondaga— Baptism  of  Garacontic  at 
Quebec— His  firmness  at  Onondaga— His  efforts  for  Christianity — A  Huron  missionary 
—Father  John  de  Lamberville  succeeds  Milet — Garacontio;  his  sickness,  recovery, 

1-^ 


10 


CONTENTS. 


visit  to  Frontonnc,  fervor,  final  sickness  and  dcatli— Bniyas  at  Onondaga— The  Luiu- 

bervillcs. III.  TiiK  Cayvoa  Mission— F.  Stephen  do  Carlieil— His  unavailing  labors 

— Afflictions— Falls  sick— Succeeded  by  Kaft'eix— Kecovers  and  returns— Conversion 

of  Saonichiogwan— Expulsion  of  de  Carlieil. IV.  Tiik  SENErx  Mission — Labors  of 

Fremin- Succeeded  by  Gamier— The  Huron  Christians— Peril  of  the  missionaries- 
Fathers  KatTeix  and  Pierron— La  Salle,  and  the  ctfect  of  his  visit — Expulsion  of  the 
missionsries 275 


)' 


i; 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

IROQUOIS   MI.SSION — (CONTINUED.) 

The  Reditctions  in  Canada. 1.  Lorette — Iroquois  there — La  Pri^cieuse — Sdgaressi; 

— Ignatius  Tocachin. II.    St.  Francis  Xavier  des  yriis  and  du  Sault  or  Caugh- 

nawaga — Its  origin — Founded  by  Father  EafTeix — Catharine  Ganneaktena— (laron- 
hiagut;  or  Hot  Cinders— Kryn,  the  Great  Mohawk— Life  at  the  mission— Fervor  of  the 
Ncopliytes— Mode  of  instruction — Visit  of  Bishop  I^val — Removal  from  Laiiralrie  to 
Sault  St.  Louis  or  Cauglinawaga — Catharine  Tehgahkwita — Her  eminent  holiness — 

Her  life  and  deatli — Reputation  for  miracles. III.  Quinte  Bay  and  the  Moin- 

TAiN  or  MoNxnEAL- Sulpitian  missions  at  Quinte  Bay— Resigned  to  Ree(dlects — I)e 
Belmont  founds  the  mission  of  Notre  Dame  des  Neiges — His  zeal — Margaret  Bour- 
geoys  and  her  Indian  school — Success  of  this  mission— Mary  Barbara  Attontinon  and 
Mary  Theresa  Gannensagwas,  Indian  sisters  of  the  Congregation 295 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

IROQUOIS   MISSION — (CONTINUED.) 

Dongan  and  his  project— English  Jesuits— Endeavor  to  recall  the  Cauglinawaga-s— Tlie 
missionaries  generally  retire — The  de  Lambervilles— The  elder  left  alone  in  New- 
York — Treachery  of  Denonville — Danger  of  the  missionary — Magnanimity  of  the 
Onondagas— De  Lamberville  retires — Close  of  the  mission — Retrospect — Denonville's 
campaign— The  Catholic  Iroquois  in  the  field— Death  of  Garonhiague— Movements 
of  the  missionaries — Capture  of  Father  Milet— Lachine  and  Schenectady— Tehoron- 
hiongo — Death  of  Kryn,  the  great  Mohawk — Attack  on  the  Mountain — The  decline 
of  piety  in  the  Indians  while  at  Montreal— Stephen  te  Ganonakoa  and  his  heroic 
death — Ourehouaro — Paul— Frances  Gonanhatcnha,  her  torture,  fidelity,  and  death— 
Milet  and  his  captivity— Conversion  of  his  owner — Her  baptism— Restoration  of  Milet 
— Death  of  Oureonharo — Conflagration  of  the  mission  at  the  Mountain — Zeal  and 
generosity  of  de  Belmont— Mary  Theresa  Gannensagwas — Mission  at  the  Sault  au 
Becollet  begun — That  at  the  Mountain  closed— Sault  St.  Louis— English  mission  to  the 
Mohawks — Bellamont— His  falsehoods  and  bigotry— French  missionaries  again  in 
New  York  in  spite  of  penal  laws — Bruyas  at  Onondaga— The  last  mission  and  its  close 
— Treatment  of  Father  Mareuil — Tegannissoron — Captives  at  Onondaga— The  Nairn 
fionily — Mission  of  the  Sault  au  Recollet  transferred  to  the  Lake  of  the  Two  Moun- 
Uina 812 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

IROQUOIS   MISSION — (CONCLUDED.) 

The  interval  of  peace— Difficulties— Emigration— Fervor  of  the  adopted  captives— 
Picqnet  at  the  Lake  of  the  Two  Mountains— His  labors—The  old  French  war— Plcquet 


'h' 


CONTENTS. 


II 


projects  tt  new  licdiiction — The  Presentation — It  is  attuckeil — Its  restoration — Vi>it 
of  the  Bishop— Banner — IMcquet  in  tlio  cantons — (Joos  to  Franre  and  returns — Tlie 
second  Frencli  war— St.  Ileitis  foun<le(l — Its  origin — KflToet  of  the  loss  of  Canada  on 
llic  nifj-sions — Marjjon  deTerlayo  and  tlio  mission  at  the  iko — The  American  Kevohi- 
tlon— Close  of  tiio  Presentation  mission — Mt.Donncll  at  St.  lle^'is — New  eliurelies 
erected — Mr.  Jose|)h  Marcoux — Cliarles  X.  and  Pope  Leo  XII.  benefactors  of  the 
mission — Cross  of  Catharine  Tehgaliicwita— Caughnawaga — St.  liegis — The  Lake  of 
tlie  Two  Mountains— lictrospect <'M 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

TUE   OTTAWA    MISSloN.   OK    .MISSION    TO   TllK    AI.liO.NliL'lN    TlllDES    IS     MU'UIOAN 

AND    WISCONSIN. 

The  Ottawa  country— Its  various  tribes— Tlio  Ojibwas  invite  tlie  missionaries — .Jogues 
and  Utiyinbaut  at  Saidt  St.  Mary  ".s— The  fall  of  the  llurons— O.irreau  and  DrullUtes 
sent  to  ilio  West— Defeat  of  tlie  mission— Death  of  Garreau — Mission  of  Menard — 
His  heroism — His  vojaueand  its  trials — rounds  a  mission  at  CIiej;(dme2on— His  labors 
and  death — Father  Claudius  Alloiiez — His  cliapcl  of  the  Holy  (ihost  at  La[iointe — His 
labors — Joined  by  Louis — By  Mar(iuotte — Their  labors — Dablon  becomes  Superior  (pf 
the  Ottawa  mis>ion — SaultSt.  Mary's  founded — An  Illinois  mission  [)rojected — .Mloue/. 
founds  St.  Francis  Xavier's  at  (^ireen  Bay— The  tribes  there— Druilletes  in  tlie  Wesi 
— His  labors  at  the  Sault — Marquette  founds  St.  Ignatius  at  Mackinaw — Father  Amir  • 
in  th'^  Archipelago— Mission  of  Oreen  Bay — Nouvel  as  Superior — Labors  of  tlio  various 
Fathers — Allouez— Marriuett'\  siu-i-eeded  by  Pierson,  goes  to  exjilore  the  Mississiind 
— His  obsequies— Enjalran  in  the  West— Later  labors  and  laborers !34> 

CHAPTER    XX. 

OTTAWA    MISSION — (CONTINUED.) 

Later  history  of  the  old  Jesuit  missions — A  mission  servant  killed — The  church  at 
Green  Bay  burnt — Mission  at  Mackinaw  abandoned— Its  restoration — Detroit — Deatli 
of  F.  Constantine— The  last  missionaries — Le  Franc,  Du  Jaunay,  and  Potior — The 
Sioux  mission — Hennepin — Marest — Captivity  of  Guigna.'s — Martyrs— Close  of  the  old 
mission — The  Sulpitiau  mission  at  the  Lake  of  the  Two  Mountains 878 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

OTTAWA    MISSION — (CONCLUDED.) 

Amkricav  Missions — The  Ottawas — Richard  at  Marquette's  grave — Petition  of  the 
<.>ttawa  chiefs — Badin — Dejean  resident  missionary  at  Arbre  Croche — Ottawa  youth 
sent  to  Rome  l>y  Bisliop  Fenwick — Reze — Baraga — The  Redcmptorists  at  Arbro 
Cnxdie  and  Sault  St.  Mary's — Baraga  and  Viszogsky  at  Grand  River— Pierz  at  Arbre 
Ooche — Baraga  at  Lapointe— The  Ance — Pierz  at  Grand  Travers  Bay — Proulx  and 
the  Jesuits  on  the  Canada  side — Skolla — Chippeway  missions  in  Minnesota — Belle- 
•  ourt — Laconibe — Baraga  made  Vicar  Apostolic. — Tlic  Menomonkes- Mission  re- 
stored by  Vandenbroeck — Bondnel'and  his  labors — Removal  of  tribe — Father  Skolla 
— The  Pottawotamiks — Richali-^ez6 — Tlje  chief  Pokcgan — Fervor — Badin — His 
labors — Dessoille— His  mission  andr<|§ath— Petit  and  his  exiled  flock— Edifying  con- 


12 


CONTENTS. 


i  :.'j 


(Hi; 


duct  of  tlio  Indians— Death  of  Petit.— The  "Winnebagoes—MIssIoii  of  Mr.  Mazznchelli 
— Pt'tiot — I'erst'cution  of  tho  missionaries — Cretin — Strange  conduct  of  government 
—Cretin  blsliop— Canon  Vivaldi 3S2 

CIJ  APT  Ell    XXII. 

1  in:      ILLINOIS     M  I  S  .S  1  <»  N  . 

Tho  Miainis  and  Illinois — Their  country — Their  flrst  nieetinii  with  inisslonarics — 
Alloucz— Marquette  i>rojects  a  mission — Allouez  meets  tlicrii  at  Mascoutens — Mar- 
quette meets  them  on  tho  Mississi[(|ii — Visits  the  Ka.skaskias — I'eturns  and  founds 
the  mission  of  tho  Immaculate  Conception— His  iloiith— Allouez  at  the  Kn»ka.skift 
village— The  Recollects  in  Illinois— Tlicir  labors— Flight— Death  of  Father  Ribourdo 
—Allouez  returns — Gravier  begins  his  mission — Kale  and  his  labors — Gravier  again 
— Details  of  Ills  mi-'sion- Kaskaskia  chief  converted— Madame  Ako,  his  daughter — 
Blnneteau — Pinet  founds  Cahokia  mission — Marest — Settlement  of  Louisiana — Death 
of  Binneteau  and  Pinet — Gravier  wounded  at  Peoria — Descends  to  Mobile — Ills 
death 403 

CHAPTER    XXIII. 

ILLINOIS   MISSION (CONTINUED.) 

The  priests  of  tho  foreign  missions — Montigny — Bergicr  at  Cahokia — His  trials  and 
deatli— Mermot  on  the  Ohio — Do  Villo  among  the  Peorias — Miami  mission  of  St. 
Joseph's — Tho  famous  Jansenist  Varlet — General  view  of  mission — Charlevoix's 
visit— Father  le  Boulanger  and  his  literary  labors — All  the  Illinois  settle  on  the 
banks  of  the  Mississippi— The  chieftain  Chicngo — Eulogium  of  tlie  missionaries — 
Father  Doutreleau  and  liis  narrow  escape — Father  Senat  and  his  glorious  death — 
Decline  of  the  missions — Period  of  war — Gibault,  the  link  of  the  old  and  new  line  of 
missionaries — Flaget — Rivet— The  Chief  Piskewah,  or  Ilichardvillo — Tho  Indian  ele- 
ment in  the  French  population 421 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

THE     LOUISIANA      MISSIONS. 

Father  Marquette  visits  tribes  on  the  Lower  Mississippi— Hennepin,  the  Sioux— Mem- 
bre,  the  Arkansas— Jesuits  succeed  him— Tho  Seminary  at  Quebec  and  its  projects — 
Montigny  descends  as  Vicar-General — Ilis  plans— Missions  of  the  Canadian  clergy — 
Tlie  Taenzas  and  Tonicas— St.  Come  at  Natchez— The  Jesuits — De  Limoge  at  the 
Oumas — Mr.  Foucault  among  tlie  Yazoos — His  death— Close  of  the  Jesuit  mission — 
Davion  and  the  Tonicas — Death  of  St.  Come — Davion  finally  retires — Father  Char- 
levoix—New  Jesuit  mission — Du  Poisson  in  Arkansas— Souel  on  the  Yazoo — ^Their 
death  in  the  Natchez  war — Yazoos  attack  F.  Doutreleau — Father  de  Guienne  and  the 
Alibnmons — Father  le  Petit  and  Baudoin  among  the  Choctaws — Suppression  of  the 
Jesuits,  and  close  of  the  mission 436 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

THE   LOUISIANA   MISSIONS   REVIVED   IN   MISSOURI   AND   INDIAN   TERRITORY. 

Louisiana  becomes  part  of  the  United  States— Du  ^urg,  Bishop  of  New  Orleans— Tlie 
Society  of  Jesus  restored — Du  Bourg  invites  the  Jesuits  to  Missouri — Disi>osition  of 
the  Indians — Father  Van  Qnickcnborne  lead.")  out  a  colony  of  missionaries— La  Croix 


1  111 


CONTENTS. 


18 


amorii;  tlie  Osnjres — Schools— Odin  and  the  Qunpaws— Van  (inlekenbornp's  jdan — 
Andiize  with  tlic  Apal:iclifs  and  riu*ca2;i<uhis— Lutz  and  the  Kansu.s— Tlic  Flathoads — 
Van  Quickcnborno  prepares  to  found  jierinanont  missions — Tlio  Kikapoos — I'otta- 
wotaniit'S — Ncitihhorini;  trihos — Death  of  Van  (iuickcnborni' — New  niisS'ion  ainiin<; 
tlic  ()?agi'S--rhe  Miainis— Sioux — Ulaokt'cet— Tlio  territory  formed  into  a  vicariate 
—  Bisliop  Mieye— State  of  his  diocese -iU'l 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

THE    LOUISIANA    MISSIONS    REVIVED THE   OREGON    MISSION, 

Oriirin  of  tlio  Oreik'on  mission — Tlie  Flatheads — They  seek  missionaries — Tlieir  trials 
and  disappointments — De  Smet  is  at  last  prantcd  — He  reaches  their  villajre — Founds 
tlie  mis>ion— Visits  the  Blackfect  and  ret\jrns— IJIanchet  and  Demers — Their  labors 
— Iletiirn  of  de  Smet  with  I'oint  and  Meng:arini — Mission  villaire  of  St.  Mary's— The 
Ctpurs  d'Alcnes — Progress  of  tlie  mission — Journeys  of  de  Smet— The  mission  of  the 
Occurs  d'Aiencs — Blanchet  and  Demers — Joined  by  others — Fountl  a  seminary— Do 
Smet  at  St.  Louis — In  Europe — Sails  for  Oregon — Willamette— Various  missions — 
New  Sees — Present  state — Testimony  of  government 466 


THE   EiNGLISH   MISSIONS. 


THE    MARYLANU    MISSION. 

General  indifference  of  English  to  salvation  of  Indians — Lord  Baltimore— Catholic 
emigration — Jesuit  missionaries— Father  Andrew  Wlute  and  his  companions — Al- 
tham  at  Piscataway — White  at  St.  Mary's— The  tribes  of  Maryland— Language,  dress, 
religion— Philological  labors  of  the  Jesuits— White  at  Mattapany — Maquacomen,  and 
his  inconstancy — Conver.-ion  of  Chilomacon,  king  of  Piscataway — His  baptism — Deatli 
of  Altham— Illness  of  White— Death  of  Brock— Fatlier  liigby— The  Susquehanna 
war — Attack  on  a  missionary  station — lleporteil  death  of  a  Father — Life  on  tho 
mis.sion — Wonderful  cure — Uuin  of  the  mission — Tlic  Father  seized  and  sent  to  Eng- 
land—Ineflfectual  attempts  to  renew  the  Indian  mission 483 

APPENDIX 497 

List  of  Missionaries 499 

Abnaki  Missionaries 499 

Huron  "        499-500 

Iroquois  "        500-1 

Ottawa  "        501 

IHinois  "        501-2 

Louisiana  "        502 

Authoritieb  used  in  the  compilation  of  this  work 503 

General  Index 507 


V 


*,  ll 


;|li 


PREFACE. 


A  GENERAL  liistorj  of  the  missioiiaiy  efforts  of  the 
Catliolic  Church  among  the  American  Indians  is  a 
work  too  much  needed  to  require  comment.  The  pres- 
ent work,  imdertaken  at  the  sufjgestion  of  President 
Sparks,  is  intended  to  comj)rise  all  missions  within  the 
present  territory  of  the  Unit*  'I  States,  from  the  discovery 
to  the  present  time.  A  few  years  since  the  laboi^s  of 
the  Catholic  missionaries  were  ignored  or  vilified:  now, 
owing  to  the  works  of  Bancroft,  Sj)arks,  O'Callaghan, 
Kip,  and  others,  they  occu])y  their  merited  place  in  our 
country's  history.  Praise  without  stint  is  lavished  on 
the  early  missionaries :  but  as  the  result  of  their  labors 
is  overlooked,  it  is  quite  common  to  deny  them  any 
success  whatever.  The  great  decrease  of  the  Indians 
may  indeed  in  part  excuse  some  writers  from  not 
knowing  the  real  state  of  little  -communities,  now" 
hemmed  in  by  the  busy  whites ;  and  it  would  excuse 
them,  were  it  not  very  evident  that  they  decide  the 
result    of   the    missions,    not    from    observation,    Init 


f 


10 


IMiEFACE. 


1      I 


f'i 


from  ju'ccoiKH'lvc'd  ideas  of  tlio  (^atliolic  Clmrch.  One 
ivniarkaltk'  fact  will,  at  all  events,  a[>[>oar  in  the  coarse 
of  this  work,  tiiat  tlie  trihes  evaii«j^elize(l  hy  the  Freiicii 
and  Spanianls  subsist  to  this  (hiy,  except  ^\lu•^e  ])rou»ji:ht 
in  contact  with  tlie  colonists  of  Knii!;land  and  their  allies 
or  descendants  ;  while  it  is  notorious  that  the  trihes  in 
the  territory  colonized  by  Kni:;land,  have  in  many  cases 
entirely  disapjjeared,  and  perished  without  ever  hav- 
ing; .had  the  (^ospel  preached  to  them.  The  Abnakis, 
Caughnawagas,  Ivaskaskias,  Miamis,  Ottawas,  Chippc- 
ways,  Arkansas,  and  the  New  ]\[exican  tribes  remain, 
and  nund)er  faithful  (christians ;  but  where  are  the 
Pequods,  Xarra^^ansetts,  the  Mohegans,  the  Mattowax, 
the  Lenape,  the  Powhatans  ?  They  live  only  in  name 
in  the  rivei*s  and  mountains  of  our  land. 

The  missionary  elforts  which  we  chronicle  were  made 
by  different  bodies,  and  their  liistory  is  to  be  sought  in 
distant  and  widely  separated  archives.  Many  volumes 
published  in  France,  Spain,  and  Mexico,  give  us  details 
more  or  less  extended  as  to  particular  missions  during 
certain  periods  :  much  still  lies  in  manuscript  in  Rome, 
Madrid,  Mexico,  Havana,  Quebec ;  more  has  been 
destroyed,  especially  in  France  during  the  last  century. 
Tlie  present  work  is  the  result  of  ten  years'  collection 
and  research.  Doubtless  manuscripts  exist  which  will 
enable  a  future  historian,  more  fortunate  than  the  author, 


rU KKACK 


17 


tu  give  at  greater  length,  what  he  lias  eiKh'avorcd  tn 
sketrh.  Still,  he  ha>^  gleam-d  eiiowgli  to  give  eaeh  mis- 
sion a  more  extrnckMl  iiotiec  than  has  vvw  yet  a|»i>eare<l. 

Ill  writing,  hv  has  endeavored  to  he  jnst  to  all  men, 
to  avoid  all  partiality,  to  take  no  part  in  the  rivalries 
whieh  Iiave  existed  and  still  exist,  all  tending  to  over- 
sliadow  the  truth,  an<l  give  theories  or  party  views  tor  a 
ri-al  i»icture  (»t'  the  historical  tacts.  With  the  lioj)e  that 
his  lahors  will  prove  neither  useless  to  the  Btudent,  iior 
devoid  of  interest  to  the  general  reader,  he  leaves  thoni 
to  the  iudii'ment  of  all. 

As  to  any  facts  which  may  appear  supernatural,  ho 

has  simi)ly  followed  the  statement  of  his  authorities; 
and  in  using  any  term  implying  sanctity,  martyrdom, 
or  the  like,  does  so  merely  from  convenience,  it  being 
well  known  that  no  official  act  of  the  Catholic  Church 
authorizes  the  ai^jjlication  of  such  terms  to  any  of  the 
missionaries  herein  named  or  their  converts. 
New  Youk,  May,  1854. 


' 


I 


r 'i 


!!iii!ii 


m 


mi 


CATHOLIC  MISSIONS 


AMONU   TliU 


INDIAN  TRIBES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


INTUODrcnUiV  chaitkii. 

Pesl;;n  of  Provitlencc  iti  tlio  disoovory  of  America— Tlio  Mlnsions — Htato  of  the  country, 
political  511(1  soWil— ObslRi'lcs  to  conversion— Ciitliollclty— Her  religious  Orders — 
riuns  and  action. 

TiiK  discovery  of  Aniorira,  liko  every  other  event  in  tlie  liistory 
of  the  world,  had,  in  tlie  desirrns  of  (iod,  tlie  great  ohj«'et  of  the 


,'learly  perh 


th 


salvation  of  mankind.  In  that  event,  nioi 
it  is  ollen  gW(m  to  us  hen^  below,  we  can  see  an<l  adore  tiiat  I'rov- 
idence  which  thus  ^ave  to  njiliions  long  sundered  from  the  rest 
of  man  by  pathless  oceans,  the  light  of  the  gospel  and  the  proffered 
boon  of  redemption. 

Iceland  was  first  discovered  by  Christian  missionaries  from  Ire- 
land, and  though  the  pagan  Northmen  soon  colonized  that  island 
and  the  shores  of  Greenland,  it  was  only  at  the  moment  when 
they  were  about  to  renounce  Woden  for  Chnst.  Greenland  wjis 
scarcely  planted,  when  missionaries  arrived  to  win  the  Scandina- 
vian to  the  faith.  From  the  time  of  their  conversion  these  colo- 
nies became  centres  of  Chnstianity,  and  hardy  missionaries  ven- 
tured down  to  the  coast  of  our  republic  to  convert  the  pagan 
colonists  and  the  surrounding  natives.  But  the  period  had  nc^t 
yet  arrived  for  the  triumph  of  the  Croas :  the  colonies  on  the  con- 
tinent all  perished,  and  America  was  again  involved  in  darkness. 

At  last  Columbus,  who,  in   his  enthusiasm,  believed  himself 


2U 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC    MISSION .S. 


destined  by  heaven  to  bear  ( 'hiist  to  the  nations,  steered  acios."* 
the  Atlantic  and  again  revealed  the  western  cotitinent  to  awakened 
Kuro])e.  It  was  a  period  of  deep  religious  feeling:  a  fbeling  which 
jM-rvaded  men  of  all  ranks,  classes,  an<l  eniplovnR'nls.  The  desire 
of  wealth  opened  at  once  the  tloodgates  of  emigration;  but  each 
])rince  felt  bound  to  atlvance  the  cause  of  Christianity  *•  niissi  na- 
rie.s  attendetl  every  expedition  to  the  New  World ;  missionaries 
flocked  over  to  dev(»t(*  themselves  to  the  great  work.  Amid  the 
lawlessness  which  at  first  pn^vailed,  the  only  check  on  the  Si)an- 
iards,  the  proto-explorers,  was  the  <leeply  seated  religious  element 
in  their  character. 

The  various  bodies  of  the  clerffv  now  bee-an  their  missions,  and 
as  colonies  were  foinied  bv  the  Catholic  States,  they  extended 
their  apostolic  e\j)editions  to  all  parts  of  the  continent.  Alone 
and  unprotected,  the  adventurous  priest  made  his  way  to  the  inte- 
rior, far  from  the  settlement  of  his  countrymen,  ex})loring  the 
^  country  and  biinging  back  a  description  of  its  products,  and  what 

•  •,  was  more  precious  still,  news  of  the  favorable  dispositions  of  tribes 

whom  he  had  visited ;  or  at  times  would  come  the  tidings  of  his 
death  in  tlu?  wilderness,  and  then  his  associates  would  use  every 
eftbrt  to  follow  in  the  path  which  he  h.'id  opened. 

The  American  Catholic  missions  are  unparalleled  for  lieroic 
self-devoted ness,  energy  of  purpose,  purity  of  motive,  or  holiness  of 
design.  Nowhere  can  be  found  more  that  is  sublime,  even  to  eyes 
blinded  by  the  glare  of  human  greatness.  Nowhere  can  we  show 
more  triumphant  proofs  of  the  power  of  religion,  even  for  the  tem- 
poral well-being  of  nations. 

Paraguay  lias  become  a  household  word :  the  missions  of 
Mexico  Avere  more  successful  still ;  those  of  Canada  are  replete 
with  interest ;  in  fact,  from  one  extremity  of  the  continent  to  the 
other,  there  is  hardly  a  district  wliich  is  not  inscribed  in  the  an- 
nals  of  Catholic  missions  as  the  theatre  of  the  zeal,  and  often  the 
martyrdom  of  lier  apostles. 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


21 


luto  so  vjist  a  field  we  should  o^ladly  (Mitor  and  portray  tho  tri- 
umphs of  the  Cross,  but  it  would  tar  exceed  the  hiiiits  which  we 
liave  prescribed  to  ourselves;  even  in  the  missionary  history  of 
the  teri-itory  over  wiiicli  the  llai^  of  our  republic  now  waves,  an 
almost  endless  variety  st^'Uis  to  defy  all  our  eti'orts  to  piescrv*- 
unitv  01'  connectedness. 

Let  us  examine  tlie  country  at  the  commencement  of  its  mis!>i()n 
history,  the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century.  Let  us,  with  tiie  first 
missionary  wlio  tlien  entered  our  domain,  take  our  stand  on  the 
Analiuac  mountains,  the  watershed  whence  liow  the  streams  that 
empty  into  the  Atlantic  and  I'acitic  l)y  sea-like  gults.  Tiie  Irish, 
iSaxon,  and  Norwegian  missionaries  had  once  centuries  before 
jilanted  tlie  Cross  at  the  opposite  extremity,  but  a  continent  lay 
between  the  scene  of  liis  labors  and  theirs.  Yet,  vast  as  the  rei^ion 
was,  it  was  to  be  conquered  to  Christ;  tlie  Latin  service,  chanted 
from  (Greenland  to  Narragansett,  was  to  resound  throui^hout  the 
length  and  breadth  of  that  land. 

The  field  was  one  as  yet  unmatched  for  extent  and  difficulty. 
That  region  now  studded  with  cities  and  towns,  traveised  in  eveiy 
direction  by  the  panting  steam-car  or  lightning  telegraj)h,  was 
then  an  almost  unbroken  forest,  save  where  the  wide  prairie  rolled 
its  billows  of  grass  towards  the  western  mountains,  or  was  lost  in 
the  sterile,  salt,  and  sandy  plains  of  the  southwest.  No  city  raised 
to  heaven  spire,  dome,  or  minaret ;  no  plough  turned  up  the  rich 
alluvial  soil ;  no  metal  dug  from  the  bowels  of  the  earth  had  been 
fashioned  into  instruments  to  aid  man  in  the  arts  of  peace  and 
war.  The  simplest  arts  of  civilized  life  were  unknown.  In  one 
little  section  on  the  Gila  and  Rio  Grande,  the  people  spun  and 
wove  a  native  cotton,  manufactured  a  rude  pottery,  and  lived  in 
houses  or  castle-towns  of  unburnt  biicks.  Elsewhere  the  canmj  or 
cabin  of  bark  or  hides,  and  the  arabesque  mat,  denoted  the  highest 
point  of  social  progress. 

Elsewhere  the  whol<'   country  was  inhabited  by  tribes  of  a  no- 


22 


AMElilCAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


nijidic  character,  ran^ly  collected  in  villages  except  at  particular 
seasons  or  for  specific  objects ;  though  liere  and  there  were  found 
more  sedentary  tribes  in  villages  of  bark,  encircled  by  walls  of 
earth  or  palisades  of  wood,  whose  institutions,  connnercial  spirit, 
and  agriculture,  superior  to  that  of  the  wild  rovei's,  seemed  to 
show  the  remnant  of  some  more  civilized  tribe  in  a  state  of  de- 
cadence. Around  each  isolated  tribe  lav  an  unbroken  wilderness, 
extending  for  miles  on  every  side,  where  the  braves  roamed,  hunt- 
ers alike  of  beasts  and  men.  So  little  intercourse  or  knowledge 
of  each  other  existed,  so  desolate  was  the  wilderness,  that  a  vaga- 
bond tribe  might  wander  from  one  extreme  of  the  continent  to 
another,  and  language  alone  could  tell  the  nation  to  which  they 
belonged. 

The  whole  country  was  tlius  occupied  by  conjparatively  small, 
but  hostile  tribes,  ,o  numerous,  that  almost  every  river  and  every 
lake  has  handed  down  the  name  of  a  distinct  nation.  In  form,  in 
mannei's,  and  in  habits,  these  tribes  presented  an  almost  uniform 
appearance :  language  formed  the  great  distinctive  mark  to  the 
European,  though  the  absence  of  a  feather  or  a  line  of  paint  dis- 
closed to  the  native  the  tribe  of  the  wanderer  whom  he  met. 

In  the  field  which  we  have  selected,  nine  great  divisions,  it  is 
now  conceded,  will  include  almost  all  the  scattered  and  contend- 
ing tribes.  The  Algonquin  or  Algic  family  occupied  the  whole 
basin  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  its  lakes,  the  western  vallev  of  the 
Mississippi,  down  to  the  fifty-fifth  degree  of  latitude,  and  the  whole 
Atlantic  shore  to  about  the  same  parallel.  Below  them  lay  the 
Mobilian  or  Muscolgee  tribes,  reaching  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
Encircled  by  these  two  great  fomilies  lay  two  isolated  groups,  pe- 
culiar in  all  their  institutes  and  destined  to  attain  a  greater  emi- 
nence than  the  rest ;  these  were  the  Iluron-Iroquois,  extending 
from  Lakes  Huron  and  Ontario,  in  a  solid  body  or  in  scattered 
clans,  to  North  (Carolina ;  and  south  of  them  the  Cherokees,  "  tlie 
mountaineers  of  aboriginal  America,"  \ 


AMEKICAM    CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


23 


Of  the  Algonquin  tribes,  all  on  the  bordei's  of  Canada  were 
gained  in  process  of  time  to  the  faith.  A  glance  at  the  map 
■will  show  their  chief  divisions.  Above  the  St,  Lawrence,  border- 
ing on  iho  E-jquimaux  of  Labrador,  and  stretching  otf  towards 
Hudson's  B<ay,  were  the  Montagnais :  below  the  gulf  lay  the  CJas- 
pesians  and  Micmacs,  or  Souriquois,  occupying  the  present  colo- 
nies of  New  Brunswick  and  Nova  Scotia.  Maine  was  occupied 
by  the  tribes  of  the  Abnakis,  the  headwaters  of  the  Connecticut 
by  the  Sokokis,  while  along  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Ottawa  lay  the 
Algonquins,  properly  so  called,  with  the  Nipissings  dwelling  on  their 
own  lake,  and  the  Attikamegues  above  Three  Kivers.  Westward 
still,  the  Ottawas  and  Chippewas  lay  near  the  outlet  of  Lake 
Superior,  while  below  roamed  the  Menomonee,  the  Sac,  the  Fox, 
the  Kikapoo,  the  Mascouten ;  and  around  the  circling  shore  of 
Lake  Michigan  were  the  numerous  clans  of  the  Illinois  and 
Miamis,  who  have  left  their  names  to  the  temtories  which  they 
possessed. 

Of  thcvse  iribes  Ave  shall  frequently  speak;  they  were  all  mis- 
sion ground.  In  the  part  occupied  by  the  English  and  Dutch, 
other  tribes  of  the  Algonquin  stock  existed,  to  whom,  with  few 
exceptions,  the  gosjxil  was  never  preached,  and  who  have  now 
mostly  perished.  New  England  was  inhabited  by  the  Nan'agan- 
setts,  Pequods,  and  other  tribes  of  similar  origin ;  the  Mohegans 
lay  on  the  Connecticut  and  Hudson,  the  Lenni  Lenape  on  the 
Delaware  and  Susquehanna,  while  Virginia  was  occupieil  by  the 
Powhatan  clans,  and  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  by  the  roving 
Shawnees. 

The  Huron-Iroquois,  more  agricultural  and  sedentary  than  the 
Algonquin  tribes,  with  whom  they  were  ever  at  war,  occupied 
a  territory  in  the  midst  of  them.  Northmost  of  all,  the  \Vy- 
andots,  traders  of  the  west,  lay  in  their  densely  peopled  vil- 
lagos,  well  fortified  by  ditch  and  palisade  on  a  small  }>eninsula  in 
l-ake  Huron;  southwest  lay  their  allies,  the  Tionontates,  whoso 


i: 

ft 

y 


■«»■ 


24 


AMEKIACN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS 


luxuiiant  tielJs  of  tobacco  won  for  tlicm  aiul  tlicir  fertile  hills  Uu* 
name  of  Petuns ;  and  soiitli  and  east  of  these,  stretching'  beyond 
the  Niagara  and  its  marvellous  cataract,  lay  the  many  clans  of 
the  Aliwandaronk,  friends  to  the  Huron  and  Algonquin,  friends 
too  to  the  Iroquois,  and  called  by  the  French  the  Neutral  Nation, 
liljist  of  these  in  New  York,  stretching  from  the  Genesee  to  the 
moutli  of  the  Mohawk,  lay  the  five  clans  of  the  Hotinnonchiendi, 
whose  names  remain  in  the  natural  features  of  New  York,  and 
who  are  now  known  collectiv  ly  by  the  French  name,  Iroquois. 
West  of  these,  on  the  southern  shores  of  Lake  Erie,  lay  tlie  far- 
famed  archers,  the  Fries  or  Cat  tribe,  who  have  melted  away  like 
a  dream :  on  the  Susquehanna  were  tlie  Andastes  or  Conestogues, 
friends  of  the  Huron  and  the  Swede,  few  but  brave ;  and  below 
them,  amid  the  Powhatans,  the  traveller  would  find  the  wig- 
wam of  the  Mehcrrin,  the  Tutelo,  and  the  clan  whom  the  Algon- 
quins  called  Nottoway;  and  still  further  south,  in  modern  Car- 
olina, ruled  the  fiery  Tuscarora,  la.st  of  the  clans  of  the  Huron- 
Iroquois. 

Close  on  the  last  of  tliis  great  family  came  the  mountain  home 
of  the  Cherokee,  and  its  sands  laden  with  gold.  Below  them,  still, 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Mississippi,  were  found  the  clans  of  the 
Muscolgee, — the  Creek,  the  Yamassee,  the  Apalache,  the  Coosa, 
the  Choctaw,  the  Chickasaw,  with  the  Natchez  and  other  tribes 
who  claimed  another  lineage. 

West  of  the  Mississippi,  from  its  source  to  the  Arkansas,  spread 
tnbes  of  the  Dakota  family — the  Sioux,  the  Assiniboins,  the  Kap- 
pas ;  while  on  the  southwest  lay  the  New  Mexican  tribes,  and  be- 
yond the  mountains  the  many  tribes  which  still  people  California 
and  Oregon. 

Such  Avas  the  field  now  presented  to  the  Catholic  missionaries. 
It  was  one  studded  with  ditficulties  and  obstacles  to  the  progress 
of  the  gospel.  Wide  spread  as  were  the  families  of  which  we  have 
spoken,  thev  were  cut  up  into  clans,  each  with  a  dialect  of  its 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


25 


ills  the 
Deyond 
laus  of 
tVionds 
Nation. 

to   tllti 
-liieiicli, 
rk,  and 
ro<|uois. 
ttie  fur- 
vjiy  like 
■stogiies, 
d  below 
he  Avig- 
3  Algon- 
lern  Cav- 
rt  lluron- 


m 


home 
em,  still, 
s  of  the 

Coosa, 
iX  tribes 

1,  spread 
le  Kap- 
I  and  be- 
ilifornia 

lonaries. 
)rogress 
Ive  have 
It  of  its 


own,  often  so  widely  variant  from  others  as  to  require  scientific 
analogy  to  show  its  parentage  :  then,  too,  wars  were  of  constant 
occurrence  even  between  clans  of  the  same  family ;  between  the 
Huron  and  Iroquois,  the  Dakota  and  Assiniboin,  the  Tequod 
and  NaiTagansett.  Besides  this,  all  were  in  a  state  of  barba- 
rism, and  to  all  appearance  with  an  utter  want  of  adaptability 
to  the  usages  of  civilized  life;  and  all  were  ignorant  of  letters, 
destitute  of  any  si)ecies  of  literature  but  the  wildest  mythological 
fables. 

These  fables  and  the  morals  of  the  people  formed  another  fear- 
ful obstacle.  Although  polytheism  did  not  exist,  although  they 
all  recognized  one  Supreme  Being,  the  Creator  of  all — although 
they  preserved  many  of  the  early  traditions  of  the  luunan  race,  the 
idea  of  the  fall  of  man,  of  the  Redeemer,  of  the  expiatoiy  power  of 
blood,  of  the  spirits  above  us,  yet — sad  spectacle  of  human  miseiy  ! 
they  nowhere  adored  the  God  whom  they  knew ;  nowhere  did 
they  offer  him  sacrifice  or  address  him  in  prayer.  The  demons 
with  which  they  peopled  all  nature,  these  alone,  in  their  fear,  they 
sought  to  appease,  to  these  they  oti'ered  the  sacnfice  which  they 
deemed  it  useless  to  ofler  to  the  God  of  goodness  and  love.  If  the 
pagan  Iroquois  now  worships  Hawen-nyiu,  it  is  only  a  relic  of 
the  teaching  of  the  early  missionaries ;  and  the  name  is  a  com- 
pound of  the  French  appellation  of  the  Almighty.  Pure  unmixed 
devil -woi'ship  prevailed  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
land.  All  corroborated  the  words  of  holy  wiit,  "Dii  gentium 
dsemonia" — "  All  the  gods  of  the  gentiles  are  devils  ;■'  that  the 
deities  of  the  gentiles  were  not  phantoms  of  the  imagination,  but 
the  fallen  spirits  who  usurped  the  rights  and  prerogatives  of  God 
and  deified  vice  and  passion.  With  these,  the  Indian,  in  liis  the- 
ology, peopled  the  forest,  the  lake,  and  the  i^ountain — all  nature, 
animate  and  inanimate ;  these  alone  he  addressed  and  sought  to 
propitiate,  reckless  of  his  account  to  the  Great  Spirit  hereafter. 

In  private  life  polygamy  existed ;  woman  was  a  slave  of  the 

2 


26 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


ii.iji' 


Imsband ;  lust  was  unchecked  even  by  the  laws  of  nature,  and  every 
excess  prevailed.  If  to  redeem  this,  crimes  of  other  descriptions, 
theft  and  violence,  were  rare  in  the  villages,  in  war  every  cruelty 
was  wreaked  on  the  captive,  and  every  stranger  was  an  enemy  ; 
war  an  ordinary  occupation,  and  scalps  torn  from  prostrate  foes 
the  only  mark  of  rank. 

The  country  itself  presented  a  thousand  obstacles ;  there  was 
danger  from  tlood,  danger  from  wild  beasts,  danger  from  the  roving 
savage,  danger  from  false  friends,  danger  from  the  furious  rapids 
on  rivers,  danger  of  loss  of  sight,  of  health,  of  use  of  motion  and 
of  limbs  in  the  new,  strange  life  of  an  Indian  wigwam.  Here  a 
missionary  is  frozen  to  death,  there  another  sinks  beneath  the  heat 
of  a  western  prairie ;  here  Brebeuf  is  killed  by  the  enemies  of  liis 
flock,  and  Segura  by  an  apostate — Dennis  and  Menard  die  in  the 
wilderness,  Dolbeau  is  blown  up  at  sea,  Noyrot  wrecked  on  the 
shore ;  but  these  dangers  never  deterred  the  missionary.  In  the 
language  of  the  great  American  historian,  "  The  Jesuit  never  re- 
ceded one  foot." 

Once  established  in  a  tribe,  the  difficulties  were  increased. 
After  months,  nay  years  of  teaching,  the  missionaries  found  that  the 
fickle  savage  was  easily  led  astray :  never  could  they  form  pupils 
to  our  lite  and  manners.  The  nineteenth  century  failed  as  the 
seventeenth  failed  in  raising  up  priests  from  among  the  Iroquois  or 
the  Algonquin  ;  and  at  this  day  a  pupil  of  the  Propaganda,  who 
disputed  in  Latin  on  theses  of  Peter  Lombard,  roams  at  the  head 
of  a  half-naked  band  in  the  billowy  plains  of  Nebraska. 

These  were  tin  obstacles  in  the  career  of  the  missionary,  but 
with  the  word  of  power,  "  Go,  teach  all  nations,"  ringing  in.  his 
ears,  the  missionarv  rushed  forward  to  execute  the  command  :  to 
teach  all,  to  announce  to  all,  to  convert  the  elect,  or  if  such  was 
God's  will,  to  labor  in  vain,  except  so  far  as  the  accomplishircr;*  of 
the  command  can  never  be  in  vain. 

We  have  now  seen  the  state  of  the  country,  the  tribes,  and 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


27 


clans  for  whom  IVovidence  prepared  tlie  offer  of  Kedemption, 
iisinff  as  he  alwavs  does,  the  revohitioiis,  tlie  chaiii^es  and  desii^ns 
of  men  for  the  accomplishment  of  its  own  great  overruling  pur- 
pose, the  salvation  and  sanctification  of  man. 

Let  us  now  turn  our  glance  to  Europe  at  the  same  period — to 
Europe,  then  synonymous  with  the  word  Christendom. 

Christianity,  now  in  Western  Europe  and  her  colonies  a  name 
for  n)en  who  believe  every  thini"'  and  men  who  believe  nothini; — 
a  name  too  vamie  to  convey  to  the  mind  any  uetinite  idea — was  then 
identieal  with  Catholicity.  The  reliji:ion  to  be  offered  to  the  native 
of  the  New  World  Avas  that  of  the  Church  of  Home.  That 
church  had  already  brought  into  its  bosom  the  fierce  tribes  who 
had  overthrown  the  Roman  empire  ;  it  was  not  appalled  at  the 
sight  of  a  new  and  barbarous  world.  In  Europe  she  sat  as  Queen. 
In  the  language  of  the  time,  the  Church  was  (^ueen  and  Sovereign 
of  the  world.  In  her  name  king's  and  republics  reigned.  All  felt 
it  a  duty  to  extend  her  sway.  At  her  voice  millions  had  been 
]>oured  upon  Asia  to  wrest  the  cradle  of  Christianity  from  the 
Unitarian  Mahomet.  The  New  World  was  also  hers,  and  secular 
princes  proceeding  to  occupy  it,  were  bound  first  to  uphold  the 
paramount  rights  of  the  Church. 

Already  spread  over  countries  most  various  in  their  conven- 
tional ideas,  the  Roman  Church  was  free  from  any  distinct  national 
feeling,  and  in  extending  her  borders,  carried  her  own  language 
and  rites,  not  those  of  any  particular  State ;  ard  thus  she  found 
men  of  eveiy  clime  ready  to  undertake  the  great  work  of  con- 
verting the  heathen,  so  eminently  the  office  of  the  Latin  Church. 
She  was  every  way  fitted  for  the  task,  and  the  spirit  that  called  out 
the  missionary  ardor,  formed  bodies  adapted  to  the  realization  of 
its  aims.  Besides  her  hierarchy  and  parochial  clergy,  fixed  and 
permanent  in  their  sees  and  parishes,  she  had  then  as  now  her 
wonderful  religious  ordere  spread  through  different  countries,  with 
distinct  and  peculiar  organizations,  fitted  to  the  special  object  of 


28 


AMERICAN   CATilULIC    MISSIONS. 


I   , 


tliL'ir  institution.  Several  of  tliese,  osporiallv  the  four  mendicant 
orders,  the  Franciscan,  Dominican,  Aui,nistinian,  and  Carmelite 
friars,  were  eminently  adapted  to  missionary  labors.  Tht-ir  jjov- 
ernment  was  central,  the  union  between  the  various  houses  close, 
their  changes  frequent;  so  that  their  members,  bound  to  each  other 
by  close  ties,  not  regarded  as  politically  attached  to  any  country 
or  place,  with  no  tie  even  to  a  }>articular  cloister,  eager  for  adven- 
turous missions,  and  full  of  that  emulous  spirit  which  always 
characterizes  distinct  corps  in  the  same  service,  rushed  to  every 
quarter  of  the  globe,  and  when  America  was  disclosed  to  astonished 
Kurope,  being  already  accustomed  and  inured  to  missionary  labor, 
liastened  to  the  new  field  as  eagerly  as  the  most  sanguine  con- 
quistador. Almost  at  the  same  epoch  arose  a  new  order  formed 
expressly  for  great  missionary  plans,  the  celebrated  society  of  Jesus, 
which  will  ever  excite  admiration  by  the  wisdom  of  its  constitu- 
tions, the  devotedness  of  its  members,  and  their  signal  services  to 
the  cause  of  leligiou. 

Thus  able  for  the  task,  with  men  to  do  the  work,  and  nations  to 
aid  with  means  and  prayers,  the  Church  undertook  tlie  task. 
With  the  first  explorers  and  first  colonists  came  missionaries,  sec- 
ular priests,  and  religious  of  every  order,  who,  leaving  their  coun- 
trymen in  their  rising  towns,  plunged  into  the  interior.  Habituated 
to  self-denial,  a  solitary  man,  with  no  earthly  tie  to  make  life 
dearer  than  the  call  of  duty,  a  man  who  had  renounced  not  only 
the  luxuries,  but  most  of  the  comforts  of  lite,  the  Catholic  mis- 
sionary, crucifix  in  hand,  bearing  a  few  articles  of  church  service, 
hastened  to  rear  his  cross  amid  the  scenes  of  idolatrous  worship. 
Amid  the  West  Indian  isles,  through  Mexico,  Peru,  Brazil,  and  the 
southern  continent,  the  cross  was  borne  bv  the  missionaries  of 
Spain  and  Portugal :  the  Norwegian,  Irish,  and  later  the  French 
and  English,  bore  it  through  our  more  northern  climes. 

These  missions  are  manv  and  varied  :  vet  the  Franciscan,  Do- 
niinican,  and  Jesuit  achiev«^d  the  greater  part  of  the  toil,  reaped 


AMEHICAX   (WTrrOIJC    MISSIONS. 


29 


tlie  most  plenteous  harvests,  and  stand  pre-eminent  in  the  annals 
of  Christian  missions. 

Sometimes  a  mission  rose  hy  royal  command,  and  u  missionary 
supplied  or  supported  from  the  public  treasury  like  a  soldier,  })r(»- 
ceeded  to  his  post :  sometimes  the  settlers  eoilected  yearly  nuans 
to  enable  the  frugal  priest  1<>  livc^  and  obtain  what  lie  needed  for 
his  ministry;  but  most  generally  the  princes,  nobles,  and  pcopU'  of 
lun'o})e  raise<l  funds  for  each  particular  mission,  Avhich  in  the 
hands  of  a  j^'ocurator  of  a  loligious  order  at  some  seaport  town 
in  Europe,  collected  gradually  from  palace  and  hamlet,  to  send 
across  the  Atlantic  missionaries,  books,  church  articles,  and  often 
objects  of  agricultural  or  mechanical  industry  for  the  Indian 
tribes. 

The  settlements  became  the  centres  whence  missionary  opera- 
tions radiated  over  the  countrv,  and  Jis  the  Catholic  founders  of  a 
colony  always  bore  envoys  of  the  gospel  in  their  fleets,  the  mis- 
sions are  coeval  with  the  settlements.  In  the  earliest  date,  Green- 
land once  settled  sent  missionaries  to  our  coast ;  at  a  later  date 
^fexico  did  the  same  :  Melendez  founding  St.  Augustine,  made  it  a 
missionary  centre  in  the  south,  as  Champlain  nuide  Quebec  in  the 
north,  and  Baltimore  made  St.  Mary's  on  the  Chesapeake. 

As  these  lines  radiate,  ihey  cross  and  mingle :  the  Spanish  mis- 
sions from  Mexico  ranged  from  Florida  to  Xew  ]\[exico  and  Cali- 
fornia;  those  of  Florida  extended  to  the  Chesapeake  and  the 
^lississippi ;  those  of  Quebec  stretched  along  the  valley  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  the  great  lakes  to  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
descending  it,  met  those  of  the  Spaniards  on  the  south,  while  to 
the  north  they  passed  at  Hudson's  Bay  over  the  traces  of  the 
Northmen ;  and  the  brief  Maryland  mission  was  on  the  limits  of 
ancient  Florida. 

These  missions  it  is  now  our  ]iurpose  to  trace  from  their  origin, 
with  their  continuation,  in  our  own  times,  by  the  clergy  of  our  re- 
public. 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  NORTHMEN. 


NORWEGIAN  MISSIONS  IN  NEW  ENGLAND. 


cHAriKi:  I. 


Disoovcrlos  of  tho  Irish  und  Nor\voi?iuns  in  Icelaml.  Orocnlaiul,  and  other  parts  of  North 
America— Introdiu'tion  of  Cliristlanity— .Settlement  of  Vinland — Various  missionaries 

sent  to  tiint  country— Uiiin^. 

* 

TiiK  Irish  and  \orw«^oians  in  tho  ninth  century  were  a  naval 
and  coinmoicial  pcoi)!*';  tlicir  tlcots  scoured  tlio  Atlantic  and  North 
seas,  and  as  piracy  then  prevailed,  the  slave-trade  was  a  lucrative 
ti'atlic  for  both. 

Of  the  voyages  of  that  period  Iceland  historian.^  preserve  us 
details,  which  the  almost  entire  destniction  of  Irish  manuscripts 
has  buried  iu  oblivion.  According  to  these,  the  Irisli  fii-st  dis- 
covered Iceland  and  established  Christianity  there,  then  planted  a 
colony  on  the  southern  coast  of  North  America,  at  a  part  called 
in  Iceland  annals  II\itramannaland,  that  is,  Whiteman's  land,  or 
Irland  it  mikla.  Greater  Ireland.  This  colony  subsisted  as  lato  as 
the  year  1000,  and  we  know  that  the  colonists  were  not  insensible 
to  the  great  work  of  evangelizing  tlie  heathen,  from  the  fact  that 
a  pagan  Icelander,  Are  Mai-son,  who  wjus  driven  there  in  983,  was 
baptized  in  the  colony. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Greenland  by  Eric  the  Red,  his  son 
Leif  visited  Norway,  and  ^'as  induced  by  St.  Olaus,  then  king  of 
that  country',  to  embrace  <iw>  tme  faith.  Returning  to  Greenland 
in  1000,  Leif  bore  with  him  priests  to  convert  the  colonists,  and 
iu  a  short  time  most  of  the  Northmen  in  America  embraced 

2* 


I 


34 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


Christianity.     Churclios  aud  convents  arose  in  difterent  parts,  rival- 
lintr  those  of  Iceland  in  piety  and  learning. 

Before  this  IJiarni,  son  of  Heriuif,  sailing  from  Iceland  to  Green- 
land, was  driven  on  the  American  coast,  and  in  the  veiy  year  of 
the  introduction  of  Christianity  into  Greenland  he  sailed  again  to 
explore  the  countries  wliich  he  had  seen,  and  naming  Labi'ador 
llelhiland.  Nova  Scotia  Markland,  proceeded  to  Xarragansett  Bay, 
where,  from  one  of  his  company  tin<ling  wild  grapes,  he  called  the 
countiy  Vinland. 

Thorwald,  Thorsteiu,  and  subsequently  Thorfinn  of  Irish  origin, 
visited  this  place,  and  a  settlement  was  gradually  foiTned.  As  yet 
all  were  not  Christians;  some  still  adored  Thor  and  Woden,  and 
missionaries  left  Greenland  to  establish  religion  in  Vinland.  Of 
these  missionaries  the  most  celebrated  w%as  Eric,  who  arrived  in 
Greenland,  and  after  laboring  a  few  years  proceeded  to  Vinland. 
Spending  some  years  here,  he  returned  to  Iceland  in  1120,  and 
sailed  to  Europe  to  induce  the  establishment  of  a  bishopric,  and  a 
proper  organization  of  the  Church.  Deeming  Eric  the  most  suita- 
ble person,  the  Scandinavian  bishops  selected  him  to  found  the  fii'st 
American  See,  and  the  missionary  was  consecrated  at  Lund,  in 
Denmark,  by  Archbishop  Adzer  in  1121. 

After  his  consecration  Eric  returned  to  America,  but  still  at- 
tached to  his  mission,  led  a  body  of  clergy  and  colonists  to  Vin- 
land :  here  he  found  so  ample  a  field  for  his  labor,  that  he  resigned 
his  bishopric  and  never  returned  to  Greenland. 

Of  the  future  career  of  this  zealous  and  self-denying  missionaiy 
we  know  no  more ;  the  researches  of  northern  antiquarians  not 
having  as  yet  drawn  from  the  dust  of  centuries  any  further  details. 

He  was  not,  however,  the  only  missionary ;  for  we  find  that 
about  this  time  John,  an  Irish  or  Saxon  monk,  sailed  from  Ice- 
land to  that  country,  but  was  there  slain  by  the  heathens  whom 
he  had  endeavored  to  convert. 

As  to  the  position  of  Vinland,  there  can  be  little  doubt ;  a  care- 


NOKWEGIAi;    MISSIONS. 


35 


fill  study  of  the  narratives  of  tlic  early  voyagers,  uai'ratives  stamped 
with  the  imprint  of  triitli,  leaves  lo  doubt  tliat  th(;y  turned  Cape 
Cod,  and  entered  tiie  waters  of  Narraijansett  ]3av.  To  coiToborato 
this,  a  ruin  exists  near  Newport,  evidently  of  llunic  or  Scandina- 
vian origin.  It  was  found  at  the  settlement  of  the  couutiy,  and 
is  clearly  no  Indian  Avork,  while  its  resemblance  to  acknowledged 
Scandinavian  works  in  Greenl;ind  and  Iceland,  places  the  question 
beyond  a  doubt. 

"  The  ancient  tholus  in  Newport,  the  erection  of  which,"  say  tho 
Royal  Society  of  Antiquarians,  "  appears  to  be  coeval  with  tho 
time  of  Bishop  Eric,  belonged  to  a  »Scandinavian  church  or  mon- 
asteiy,  where,  in  alternation  with  Latin  masses,  the  old  Danish 
tongue  was  heard  seven  hundred  years  ago."* 

A  cloud  hangs  over  the  fate  of  the  colonists  of  Vinland  and 
Greenland,  who  sank  at  last  under  war  or  pestilence. 


*  As  to  Vinland,  see  Antiquitatci  Americance,  pp.  193,  203,  260,  &c. ;  Me- 
moirs of  tlic  Royul  Society  of  Northern  Antiq.,  1336-7,  1838-9,  1840-3, 
1845-S  ;  Lanigan's  Ecc.  Hist.  Ireland,  iii.,  ch.  20. 


SPANISH  UmiONS. 


«* 


*    ,,    ^"^  -». 


I 


1l' 


t 


y^Ys  '¥}  '£  SI  A  ?]  r}^}  o  ?\  ■  y  rji  y  n  j ,  © .  s .  'y. 


.-VJ^.V.'iA.T  OJ' 


'.^a.«z=  M.'u's^.^.v 


s.cy  LJZii 


h.iward  ./-jr.^'iTi  Sc  Brothei     ;i  Y. 


mu 


mm 


II  i 


SPANISH  MISSIONS  IN  NEW  MEXICO,  FLORIDA,  TEXAS, 

AND  CALIFORNIA. 


CHATTER   I. 

EARLY    AITEMPTS    IN    VARIOUS    PARTS. 

The  Franciscans  under  Bishop  Juarez  In  Florida — Father  Mark  in  the  Olla  Valley — 
Father  Padilla  in  that  of  the  Kio  Grande— His  dcvotedness  and  death — Missionaries 
with  I)e  Soto  in  Florida — Successful  mission  of  Father  Andrew  de  Olnios  in  Texas — 
Heroic  enterprise  of  the  Dominican  Futher  Cancer— His  glorious  death  in  Florida — 
The  shipwrecked  missionaries — Mystery  as  to  Father  John  Ferrer — Doininicana  in 
"West  Florida  and  Alabama  with  Don  Tristan  do  Luna.  '    .  .• 

The  Spanish  conquests  in  tlic  Western  world  have  long  been 
chronicled  by  national  hatred  as  scenes  of  unsurpassed  cruelty  and 
tyranny,  and  to  most  it  seems  certain  that  Spanish  America  must 
be  as  completely  cleared  of  its  aboriginal  inhabitants  as  the  paiis 
in  which  we  live.  Cruelties,  indeed,  were  practised,  but  they  did 
not  form  the  general  rule.  The  part  taken  by  the  missionaries, 
ever  the  steadfast  friends  of  the  Indian,  has  been  singularly  mis- 
represented, and  they  seldom  figure  in  English  accounts  unless  as 
pereecutors.  Yet  never  did  men  more  nobly  deserve  a  niche  in  the 
temple  of  benevolence  than  the  early  and  later  Spanish  mission- 
aries. The  impetuous  Las  Casas,  so  for  from  standing  alone,  is 
really  one  of  the  least  conspicuous  even  in  the  missionary  annals 
of  his  own  order ;  and  in  efforts  to  convert,  civilize,  and  protect 
the  red  man,  all  the  religious  orders  rivalled  each  other,  lavishing 
their  blood  and  toil  to  save  the  Indian  for  time  and  eternity. 

The  settlement  of  the  Spaniards  in  the  West  Indies  preluded 


■ 


\ 


M 


4(. 


A.MEIUCAN    (ArilOMC    MLSSlUNS, 


;itt(.'iiij)ls  to  o.\i)lor(!  tlu.'  c'ofnitrii.'s  on  tlic  <Jul{",  wliicli  rt'sultod 
at  last  iu  tlie  coiKjiicst  of  the  empire  of  the  Aztecs.  In  Mexico 
tiien  tlio  juissions  l»('<;-aii,  and  in  a  I'cw  years  sjiread  over  most 
of  the  States  -Nvliicli  now  eonipoM!  llie  republic  of  Mexico,  beai'- 
ing  rich  fruits  to  reward  the  labors  of  the  devoted  lieralds  of 
the  faith.  l*1orida  was  already  osteemed  a  paragon  of  wealth  and 
beauty,  in  1520,  l*aniphihis  de  Narvaez  set  out  for  its  coiKpiest 
uith  a  considerable  force,  and  the  title  of  Adelantado.  lu  order 
to  convert  the  natives,  the  expedition  was  attended  by  a  coiLsider- 
able  number  of  Francisc?.!!^,  v.n«lor  the  direction  of  Father  John 
Juarez,  one  of  the  first  twelve  Franciscans  wlio  entered  Mexico. 
Leaving  his  convent  of  Iluexotzinco,  he  went  not  only  as  Superior 
of  the  mission,  but  also,  annalists  assure  us,  as  Bishop  of  Florida.* 
The  adventurei-s  lauded  on  the  coast  on  the  16th  of  April,  1528, 
and  with  all  solemnity  took  possession  of  the  bay  of  Santa  Cruz, 
now  Pensacola.  The  recount  of  their  march  beloncfs  to  secular 
history :  suffice  it  here  to  say,  that  after  months  of  toil  and  suffer- 
ing they  grew  disheartened,  and  finding  no  cities  or  towns,  turned 
mournful  and  dejected  towards  the  coast,  which  they  finally 
reached,  and  building  a  few  frail  boats,  sought  to  reach  Mexico. 
In  one  of  these,  the  religious  and  othei-s  to  the  number  of  forty 
embarked,  but  the  frail  bark  was  w  }cked,  and  though  all  on  board 
escaped  a  watery  grave,  they  subsequently  perished  of  famne, 
disease,  or  by  the  luiuds  of  the  ^ndians.  Of  this  first  body  ot 
missionaries  we  know  but  little.  In  the  meager  annals  which  have 
reached  us  of  this  ill-fated  expedition,  there  is  no  record  of  any 
attempt  to  found  a  mission  among  the  Indians,  nor  did  subsequent 
conquistadores  find  any  trace  of  previous  Christian  instruction. 
Besides  Juarez,  we  know  the  names  of  the  lay  brother  John  de  Palos, 
and  of  a  priest,  Asturiano,  who,  after  suniving  the  first  malady 
which  decimated  the  party,  and  experiencing  many  hardships, 


*  El  Inca,  La  Florida  :  Ilenrion,  Hist.  Gcucrale,  i.,  398. 


SPANISH    MISSIONS. 


41 


(VuA  at  last  on  ^[:i11im<1(».  i»rol)aMy  Dauphin  Wand,  near  tlio  mouth 
of  t»e  Mississij.j.i.* 

Tils  cxjuMlition,  finitl«'>s  an.l  fatal,  K'<1  liowovor  to  now  niis- 
sionar)  tllurts.  Only  f'»iir  of  tho  c'oini)ani<)ns  of  \arvarz  oscapfd. 
Crosiinq  Tcxn.s  an. I  Xew  Nrcxico  to  tho  (!ulf  of  California,  and 
jipjiearinr  like  men  risen  from  the  ^'ave,  they  increased  tho 
jrt'neral  Nvmder  by  accounts  of  ricli  and  powerful  kini^doms 
which  tlu'X  jiad  poon  in  the  interior.  The  Franciscans  were 
aroused  :  tht  Italian  friar,  >hirk  of  Nice,  resolved  to  plunge  into 
the  unknown  north,  guided  by  Stei>lK'n,  a  negro,  one  of  tlie  sur- 
^^vors  of  X.ir\n'/s  force.  With  one  companion.  Friar  llonora- 
tus,  lie  set  out  ^Vom  Culiacan,  in  March,  15:50,  but  the  latter  be- 
coming too  ill  U  proceed,  Mark  left  him  at  Tetatlan,  and  with 
his  guide  and  sonv;  friendly  Indians,  struck  boldly  into  the  desert 
that  stretched  awa\  to  the  ( Jila,  and  finally  crossing  that  deep 
imbeddi'd  river,  recommenced  bis  toilsome  march  for  Cibola,  the 
Zufii  of  the  natives.!  Wandering  amid  tribes  dressed  in  bison- 
skins  and  cotton  mantks  purchased  from  the  more  civilized  Cibo- 
lans,  liis  liopes  rose  high,  and  naming  the  vast  realm  San  Francisco, 
he  already  beheld  it  in  i\nairination  converted  to  the  faith,  and 
become  the  home  of  his  missionaiy  order.  Tlio  kingdom  of  San 
Francisco  lives  but  in  his  narrjitive ;  yet,  as  if  to  realize  his  wish,  a 
city  of  that  name  is  the  Cartlmge  of  the  Pacific. 

Halting  himself  as  he  approached  Cibola,  lie  sent  on  his  guide 


*  Xaufrairo.*  cle  Alvar  Xufiez  Cabezu  de  Vaca ;  Torquemada,  Monarquia 
Indiana,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  437-447.  .Juarez  was  one  of  the  original  twelve  Fran- 
ciscans who,  under  the  Ven.  Martin  do  Valencia,  founded  the  mission  of 
the  order  in  Mexico  in  1524.  After  fllling  tlie  post  of  warden  of  the  con- 
vent of  Iluexotzinco,  he  was  appointed  visitor  of  the  province ;  and  soon 
after  joined  the  expedition  in  whicli  he  died. 

Brother  .John  de  Palos  was  another  of  the  orij^inal  twelve,  and  liad  been 
in  the  convent  of  Seville  before  coming  to  America.  In  Mexico  his  short 
career  was  one  of  zeal  in  learning  the  language  of  the  people  and  in  instruct- 
ing them. 

t  Schoolcraft,  Indian  TribcR.  iv.  ;  De  Lnet,  226 


VI 


AMEFUCAN   I'ATIIUMC    MIS.SloNS. 


! 


I  it 


aiul  a  iiiiimImt  (if  Imliaiis  ti»  j»r(']tarti  tlit;  \va\  ;  l>iit  llic /niii*  re- 
fused  lo  admit  S(»  lai'LT''  a  i»aity,  and  initat<'d  ;it  the  jM'iliiiacHy  oi 
Stephen,  the  iiei;To  miide,  attacki-d  iIkim  and  killed  several,  ;m(>iii^ 
llie  rest  St('j>lie!i  liiinself.  I'ndeterred  l»y  tliis  loss,  or  l»y  the 
threats  of  his  Indian  eoinpanioiis,  who  would  have  visitet'on  liini 
the  deatli  of  their  eoinrades,  lather  Afark  |)r()ceeded  to  a  hill 
whieh  coniniandt.Ml  the  welldiuilf  city  of  Cihola,  and  (tlantini^^  a 
eross,  emblem  alikt!  of  ids  zeal  and  the  travers(f  it  h;d  sustained, 
lie  turned  dei<'('tedlv  to  the  south.  Mark  achieved  v*  missionary 
con<iuost,  but  ho  had  opened  the  lield  to  new  etVorts.* 

These  were  not  delayed.  The  iiupassioned  sok  of  Italy  dri'w 
up  a  tlirillini:^  account  of  tlie  land  which  he  had  seen  only  in  the 
ijolden  light  <»f  the  setting  sun,  and  knew  only  l)y  Indian  report. 
lie  little  dreamt  how  frail  and  poor  those  stately  walls,  liow  sim- 
ple and  unadvanced  the  peoi)le.  An  oxi)editi'on  Avas  fitted  out  by 
the  government,  and  the  viceroy  accompai'ied  it  to  the  frontier. 
Fatlier  Mark,  with  a  goodly  number  of  intrei)id  I'Vanciscans, 
swelled  the  train.  Cibolu  was  soon  re{)ched  and  taken,  but  so 
little  did  Zuni  realize  the  anticipations  raised  by  Father  Mark, 
that  one  yoice  of  indignation  burst  upon  him.  lie  left  the 
expedition,  which  continuing  its  march  crossed  to  the  valley 
of  the  Kio  (Jrande,  and  even  to  that  of  the  Arkansas,  in  search 
of  the  fancied  realm  of  Quivira.  The  natives,  friendly  at  first, 
were  soon  driven  to  resistance  by  the  wrongs  they  received,  and 
the  Spaniards,  in  the  war  Avhicli  ensued,  found  some  difficulty  in 
capturing  the  well-defended  towns  of  the  Indians.  No  wealth, 
however,  repaid  the  adventurous  Coronado,  who  penetrated  to  the 
bison  plains,  and  first  saw,  as  he  was  the  first  to  make  known  the 

*  "  Eclation  du  frai  Mare  doNiza,"  in  Ternaux's  Collection.  Fatlier  Marl: 
was  a  native  of  Nico,  in  Italy,  and  camo  to  Aniorioa  in  l.")"l.  His  first  labors 
■\vcro  in  Peru,  but  after  struygling  in  vain  with  the  turbulent  authorities,  he 
returned  to  Mexico  and  was  chosen  rrovineial.  His  health  w;us  so  much 
shattered  in  the  second  cxpcditjon  to  Cibola,  that  he  never  recovered.  He 
died  soon  after  at  Mexico. 


\ 


I  ! 


SI'AN'i.SIl    MISSIONS. 


13 


Itison,  ail  nnimal  jMciiliar  lu  Aiiicrlca.  \\'»'.irv  at  last,  ]h'.  ivs«>Iv«Mi 
to  rt'iurn.  .loyt'iilly  as  tliis  |iroj»osal  was  rcccivi'd  l>y  soiiio  <>t'  his 
|>ai"ty,  it  was  u  lieavy  l'l<»\v  tn  the  iMissi(,iiaii«<,  \vln>  liail  li«>|ti'il  to 
toiiiid  missions  aiiioiin;  (In;  in-wiv  <lis('ov«'r»'<|  lril»«'s.  \or  nncic 
tln'y  romantic  in  tlifir  idea.  Tin'  Nt-w  .Mt'\i«-aiis  ;ii<'  amoiijjf  tlif 
iiiiMost  of  tho  alioriijfiiials,  iinliistfioiis,  ami  in<»i*'  rivili/.rd  than  aiiv 
otl»».'r  of  our  trilics.  'I'hcir  houses  wt-ri'  of  unhurnt  lnicks,  si-voral 
stories  in  hciglit,  diminishiiii;;  in  si/c  as  thoy  ascended,  'i'heso 
houses,  in  a  town,  were  not  like  ours,  ajiart,  l»ut  all  huilt  at  the 
same  time,  with  no  intervening,'  spaces,  and  fonned  a  {larallelo- 
irrani,  ]>resentin<j:  outwardly  a  wall  unl»rok<Mi  l>v  iloor  or  wind<jw, 
while  the  centre  of  the  town  was  an  open  s«|uaro.  Kach  story 
present(!d  a  terrace  to  be  reache*!  l>y  la<lders,  which  enahled  the 
owner  to  mount  irraduallv  to  the  root'  wliei<;  tlu'  main  entrance 
was.  The  lowest  story  was  a  kind  of  stove  or  vapor-hath.  These 
towns  still  subsist,  and  have  often  })ioved  in  war  a  most  seeiUH;  de- 
feiiee.  The  people  raised  cotton  in  abun<lance,  which  tlu'y  spun 
and  wove  into  cloth,  and  in  this  an<l  in  dressed  skins  the  ]>eople 
were  all  decently  attired.  Their  fields  were  productive,  their  culinary 
utensils  of  superior  make,  and  Christianity  alone  wan  needed  to  make 
them  a  happy  people,  for  their  morals  and  customs  were  extremely 
]>ure,  and  their  idolatiy,  simple  Habaism,  the  tirst  error  of  inan. 

Won  by  their  manners,  two  of  the  Franciscan  missionaries  be<^- 
i^ed  to  remain.  One  of  these,  I'^ither  .lohn  de  I'adilla,  a  native 
of  Andalusia,  had  once  borne  arms  in  the  ujuise  of  a  soldier,  and 
now  in  the  cause  of  Christ  showed  no  less  intrepidity,  and  deter- 
mined to  bei^in  a  mission  at  the  laro-e  town  of  Quivira,  whicli  tlie 
expedition  had  just  left,  and  which  lay  on  the  west  of  the  liio 
<irande.  The  other,  a  lay  brother,  .lohn  of  the  Cross,  whom  men 
in  other  days  had  called  Louis  de  Escalona,  with  equal  determi- 
nation resolved  to  begin  his  lal»ors  at  the  neighboring  town  of 
Cicuye.  Coronado  yielding  to  theif  zeal,  granted  their  request, 
and  as  he  had  brouerht  live-stock  in  order  to  settle  in  the  country. 


44 


A.MKIJICAN    CATHUJ.IC    MISSIONS. 


a  portion  "wns  allotted  to  each  missionnrv,  and  some  Mexican  In- 
dians reniainod  as  guides  and  assistants.  Cieuyo  being  still  before 
them,  Brother  .lohn  of  th«'  Cross  Avas  sent  on  Avith  an  escort  and 
reached  it  safely.  Padilla  took  leave  of  Ids  countrymen  and  re- 
traced his  steps  to  (^Miivira  with  his  Indian  converts.  HiTc  for 
some  time  he  labored  assiduously,  but,  as  it  would  seem,  almost  in 
vain.  Mealing  of  a  tribe  more  docile  in  character,  lie  set  out  for 
their  town,  but  on  the  road  was  suddenly  surrounded  by  a  con- 
siderable force  of  roving  Indians.  Conscious  of  his  danger,  he 
uiged  his  companions  to  fly,  and  kneeling  down  prepared  to  die. 
In  a  f(!W  moments  he  fell,  piei'ced  by  a  shower  of  arrows,  and 
sealecl  his  mission  with  his  blood.  Ilis  comrades  fled  dow^n  the 
river,  and  after  many  a  danger,  reached  Tampico  to  announce  his 
martyr  triumph."'^ 

Of  l^rother  John  of  the  Cross,  and  his  mission  at  Cicuye,  the 
modern  Pecos,  no  tidings  were  ever  obtained,  and  he,  too,  in  all 
probability,  fell  a  victim  to  the  violence  of  the  natives.  How 
heroic  their  sacrifice,  who,  to  regenerate  and  elevate  a  fallen  and 
debjused  race,  left  themselves  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  savages,  re- 
nouncing the  comfort,  security,  and  honors  of  civilization  for  the 
wants  and  dauijers  of  a  mission  life  ! 

The  territory  east  of  the  Rio  Grande  had  meanwhile  been  the 
scene  of  an  expedition  which,  in  its  pomp  and  power,  its  cruelties 
and  its  misfortunes,  has  few  parallels  in  our  annals.  Like  Coro- 
nado,  the  illustrious  De  Soto  sought  the  mighty  kingdom  which 

*  Caataueda  de  Nafrora,  part  ii.,  cli.  8;  part  iii.,  cli.  -1;  Jaranflillo;  Tor- 
quemadii,  Monarquia  Indiana,  vol.  ill.,  ]).  GIO;  Croniquos  dc8  Freres  Mi- 
nOiir.-*,  350  ;  Ilenrion,  Hist.  Geu.,  i.,  435.  See  also  as  to  Coronado's  marcli,  tho 
traniilation  of  Cabcza  dc  Vaca,  printed,  not  published,  at  Washington,  1851. 

Fatlior  Padillu  was  an  Andalusian,  wlio,  after  distin^niishing  himself  as  a 
jrallant  soldier,  entered  the  Franeiscan  order  in  the  province  of  Granada. 
Previous  to  tlio  mission  in  wliieli  he  died,  he  had  been  the  tirst  warden  of 
the  convent  of  Tulatzinoo,  but  led  bv  his  zeal,  had  left  it  to  evangelize  tho 
Indians  of  Mechoacan  and  Jalisco,  and  was  warden  of  the  convent  of  Tza- 
potlan  when  he  set  out  for  Cibola.    During  tho  march  ho  visited  tho  Moqnis. 


!S  PAN  1611    MISSIONS?. 


45 


.'xican  In- 
till  before 
escort  and 
11  uikI  re- 
Ilon;  for 
almost  ill 
ct  out  for 
1)V  a  con- 
laiigcr,  he 
•ed  to  die. 
rows,  and 
down  the 
lounce  his 

/icuvo,  the 
too,  in  all 
es.  How 
fallen  and 
vages,  re- 
011  for  the 

been  the 
cruelties 
like  Coro- 
j>in  which 

|illo;  Tor- 
'rcrcs  Mi- 

limrcli,  tlio 
[ton,  1851. 

Imself  as  n 

GranaLln. 

kvarden  of 

Igelize  tlio 

It  of  Tza- 

Moquis. 


the  sunivors  of  the  ONpcdilion  of  Xarvaez  had  discovered  in  the 
interior  of  the  continent.  Cunlident  that  he  was  to  tind  and  con- 
quer a  new  Mexico,  he  landed  in  I'lorida  Avith  a  sjdendid  array, 
and  with  him  went  missionaries,  both  secular  and  regular,  to  con- 
vert the  nations  when  the  Spanish  })ower  was  established.  1  )t^ 
Soto's  fate  is  well  known  :  his  army  wasted  away  by  sickness, 
famine,  and  in  constant  battles  witii  the  bold  and  hardv  natives; 
and  wi.'cn  lie  died  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  his  successor, 
Muscoso,  after  trying  in  vain  to  reach  Mexico  by  land,  fled  down 
the  river,  hotly  pursued  by  the  natives.  A  small  party  reached 
Tampico,  but  every  clergynian  had  perished,  and  no  mention  is 
made  of  any  attempt  to  found  a  mission.^'* 

In  1544,  however,  a  missionary  etlbrt  was  made  in  the  same 
territory,  and  here  the  zeal  of  a  sincjle  man  did  more  than  had 
been  accomplished  by  all  who  had  i)receded  him.  J^atiier  Andrew 
de  Oliiios  had  long  displayed  his  zeal  and  missionary  ])ower  among 
the  Indian  tribes.  Striking  on  and  on,  deeper  and  deeper  into  the 
country,  he  at  last  heard  of  the  wild  Texan  tribes  then  called  Chi- 
chiinecas.  Undaunted  by  the  accounts  of  their  barbarous  manners, 
and  seeing  in  them  mily  greater  objects  of  his  Christian  soUcitude, 
he  entered  the  rolling  prairies.  The  wild  men  gathered  around  the 
solitary  envoy,  and  hearkened  in  peace  to  his  doctrines.  Num- 
bers were  persuaded,  and  followed  the  missionary  to  Tamaulipas, 
where  he  formed  a  reduction  and  completed  their  instruction. 
Here  he  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  their  language,  and  com- 
posed or  translated  many  works  for  their  use.  llis  example  soon 
drew  to  his  side  a  zealous  associate  in  tiie  person  of  the  secular 
priest,  John  de  Mesa,  who,  sj^ent  with  years  and  toil,  closed   his 

*  Prior  to  De  Soto's  deatli  died  four  secular  priests,  Mr.  Dennis,  n  Pari- 
sian, Diego  de  IJanuelos,  of  Cordova,  and  Francis  do  la  Koclia,  a  Trinitarian 
religious.  Under  Muscoso  died  Koderio  de  Gallegos  and  Francis  del  Puzo, 
seeiilar  priests,  John  de  Torres,  a  Franeisoan,  John  de  Gallegos  and  Louis 
de  Suto,  Dominieajis. — La  Floridadtl  Imxt, 

liiedma  and  llackluyt  are  .silent  touoliing  I  hone  uiissionarie.-. 


P- 


:! 


46 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


life  amid  his  Indians  uf  l*aniu'0.  Otlicrs  were  won  bv  tbo  sue- 
cessors  of  those  men,  and  a  flourishing  mission  grew  up  avouul 
the  liumble  con(|Uest  of  Olmos'  hardy  zeal.* 

Almost  at  the  same  time  a  Dominican  Father  projected  the 
spiritual  conquest  of  Florida,  hoj)ing  to  win  a  new  tiiumph  for  the 
Cross  by  subduing,  unarmed  and  in  i)eace,  a  country  which  had 
batlled  the  hardiest  military  expeditions.  Worthy  of  that  illustrious 
order  which  stands  pre-eminent  in  history  as  the  stern  and  un- 
compromising asserter  of  the  e^jual  right  of  the  Indian  to  freedom 
and  ciyil  rights.  Father  Louis  Cancer  de  ]»arbastro  determined  to 
proceed  to  Florida,  conyinced  by  the  character  of  such  as  he  had 
met,  that  the  Floridians  min-ht  easily  be  made  to  rank  amonjx  the 
ciyilized  njitions.  Two  other  Dominicans  had  already  resolyed  to 
])enetrate  to  Florida  by  land,  following  the  Avay  so  happily  opened 
by  Olmos.  They  readily  embraced  the  yie\ys  of  Cancer;  but,  on 
consulting  with  some  older  religious,  it  was  deemed  essential  to 
.success  to  obtain  the  royal  sanction.  Cancer  was  selected  to  cross 
the  Atfantic  and  lay  the  projcv't  before  the  monarch.  Among  his 
fellow-passengers  was  the  great  Las  Casas,  Dishop  of  Chiapas,  who 
entered  with  all  the  impetuous  zeal  of  his  character  into  the  project 
of  his  fellow-religious  ;  and  on  JUTiving  in  Spain  easily  obtained  for 


i-i- 


*  Monarquia  Indiana,  c.  20;  Ensayo  Cronologico,  unn.  1544. — Father  An- 
drew dc  Ulnios  was  born  nca/  Ofia,  in  the  district  oi"  Burgos,  but  liavint,' 
been  brouj^ht  up  at  Olmos,  toolv  tlio  name  of  that  phice.  lie  entered  tlie 
Franeiscan  order  at  Valhidolid,  and  eame  to  Mexico  iii  152S  with  Bishop 
Zumarraijca.  He  soon  was  a  complete  master  of  the  Mexican,  Totonac,  Tepe- 
fruan,  and  (iuastcca  lanj^uatrcs.  After  a  life  of  labor  and  lioliness,  lie  died 
at  Tampicane  near  Panueo  on  the  Stii  October,  1571.  He  wrote  a  Grammar 
and  Vocabulary  of  the  Mexican  lanjruajxe,  the  Last  Judgment,  Sermons, 
Treatises  on  the  Sacratnents,  Sacrilege,  the  Seven  Deadly  Sins,  in  Mexican ; 
a  Guastec  Graimnar  and  Vocabulary,  with  Catechism,  Confessional,  and  Ser- 
mons in  the  sanje  langua;.'c  ;  and  a  Totonae  graunnar  and  vocabulary.  John 
de  Mesii  was  born  at  Utrera  in  Andalusia,  and  eame  when  a  child  to  America, 
where  his  uncle  was  governor  of  Tempuhal.  He  embraced  the  clerical  state, 
and  dcvotintr  himself  to  tin-  Indians,  K^avMcil  the  languages  of  various  tribes, 
and  labored  among  them  during  tin;  rc>t  of  his  lite,  distributing  his  iuherit- 
tujce  among  the  poor. — Touron,  Hi>t.  dr  PAm.,  v.  '[•26:  Cronique,  418. 


1 


SPANISH    MISSIONS. 


47 


him  the  protection  of  riiihp  ;ui<l  ;i  full  Mpprolxitioii  of  liis  sclieme 
for  the  peaceful  and  bloodless  concjuest  of  Florida.  Orders  were 
issiu.'d  plac'nj^  at  his  disposal  a  vessel  to  he  titted  out  at  any  port 
in  Europe  or  America,  supplied  with  all  that  should  be  deemed 
necessary  to  insure  the  success  of  his  project.  This  was  not  all. 
Cancer  obtained  in  addition  a  royal  decree  restorinjjf  to  freedom 
every  native  of  Florida  lield  in  bondage  in  any  part  of  the  Spanish 
dominions  in  America.  With  these  documents  Cancer  returned 
to  Mexico,  and  soon  obtained  of  the  Viceroy  a  suitable  vessel. 
When  all  was  ready,  he  embarked  for  Tampa  Bay  with  liis  two 
orimnal  associates,  Fathers  (ireofoiT  de  Beteta  and  John  Garcia; 
and  one  other,  Father  l>iego  do  Penalosa,  who  had  joined  them. 
The  vessel  misscMJ  the  intended  port,  but  readied  the  coast  of 
Florida  in  about  the  twentv-ninth  decfrce  of  latitude  on  the  eve  of 
Ascension  Day.  After  seckinj;  the  port  for  some  days,  and  land- 
ing f"'^;n  time  to  time.  Father  Diego  went  ashore,  followed  by 
Canv^^  :,  niterpn^ter,  and  one  other,  in  order  to  confer  with  the 
Indian,  .;mid  the  dusky  children  of  the  everMades  they  knelt 
and  commended  the  enterprise  to  (Jod,  then  rose  and  began  their 
intercour'-e  with  the  natives.  Presents  soon  won  esteem  and 
friendship,  and  as  the  long-sought  harhor  was  now  ascertained  to 
be  only  a  day's  sail  distant,  it  was  agreed  that  Father  Diego,  with 
a  Spaniard,  and  the  Indian  woman  who  had  acted  as  interpreter, 
should  remain  on  shore,  while  the  rest  proceeded  to  the  port 
by  sea. 

So  slowly,  liow  ever,  did  their  vessel  move,  that  they  did  not 
reach  the  desired  haven  till  the  festival  of  Corpus  Christi.  Here, 
too,  fiiendly  relations  were  opened  with  the  natives  by  Father 
Cancer;  and  the  interpreter  arrived,  announcing  that  F.Diego  was 
at  the  cacique's  hut.  On  his  returning  to  the  vessel.  Cancer  found 
all  thrown  into  perplexity  by  the  arrival  of  a  Spaniard  who  proved 
to  be  a  survivor  of  De  Soto's  expedition,  and  who  had  been  for  many 
years  a  slave  among  the  Indians.     He  warned  the  missionaries  to 


48 


AMEIUCAN   CATIIOJJC   MISSIONS. 


i! 


beware  of  the  Indians,  anU  to  tlicir  amazement  declared  that  Fatiier 
DiejTo  and  his  coini)anion  had  l>een  already  ])utchercd  hv  the 
savat;"es,  with  all  kinds  of  ceremony  and  addresses.  "All  this  was 
indeed  terrible,"  savs  Cancer,  "and  very  atHictinnf  tons  all,  but  not 
surj)risinL>' :  such  things  cannot  but  ha})})en  in  enter[>ris<'s  for  the 
extension  of  the  faith.  I  expected  nothing  less.  Ilow  often  liave 
1  relk'cted  on  the  execution  of  this  enterprise,  and  felt  that  we 
could  not  succeed  in  it  without  losing-  much  blood.  So  the  Apos- 
tles did,  and  at  this  price  alone  can  faith  and  religion  be  in- 
troduced." 

Many  were  now  in  fovor  of  abandoning  the  project,  but  Cancer 
resolved  to  remain  alone,  if  necessary,  hoping  by  mildness  and 
presents  to  win  the  favor  of  the  Indians.  On  the  24th  of  June  he 
remained  on  board  to  draw  up  an  account,  which  is  still  extant,* 
and  to  prepare  what  he  deemed  necessary  for  his  new  mission. 
Storms  for  a  day  prevented  his  landing,  but  on  the  20th  he  quitted 
the  vessel,  accompanied  by  Fathers  Garcia  and  JJeteta,  and  when 
near  the  shore  sprang  out,  and  not  heeding  tlieir  entreaties  and  re- 
monstrances, proceeded  up  the  steep  bank.  The  Indians  looked  on, 
but  gave  no  sign  of  welcome.  Then  doubtless  Cancer  realized  all 
his  danger :  he  knelt  for  a  moment  in  prayer,  but  an  Indian  ap- 
proached, and,  seizing  hira  by  the  arm,  led  him  oft".  A  crowd  soon 
gathered  around,  his  hat  was  torn  otf,  and  a  heavy  blow  of  a  club 
stretched  him  lifeless  on  the  shore.  He  uttered  but  one  cry,  "  Oh  ! 
my  God  I"  for  in  an  instant  the  savages  had  covered  him  with 
mortal  wounds,  and  rushing  to  the  water's  edge  drove  back  the 
rest  with  a  shower  of  arrow:s.     Sadly  the  surviving  missionaries 

*  It  was  published  by  Ternaux  Compans  in  his  Keceuil  de  pieces  sur  hi 
Floride,  page  107,  and  forms  a  part  of  tlie  "IJehition  de  hv  Floride  apporteo 
par  Frai  (Jroiroire  de  Beteta."  Thouirh  it  docs  not  bear  Cancer's  name,  the 
reader  will  easily  see  that  he  is  the  author,  and  as  easily  discover  what  was 
added  by  anothor  hand.  Besides  this,  sec  (4omara,cl;.  4');  Ilerrera,  Decade 
8,  book  ."> ;  \,\\  Florida  drl  liu-a,  lib.  vi.,  ch.  xxii.;  Canlenas,  Ensayo  ("ro- 
iiolouico,  2.');  llenrion,  Hist.  Gen.  des  Missions ,  Touion,  Hist.  Geu.  de 
rAnierique, 


1 


SI'ANISll    MISSIONS. 


49 


Father 
;)y  tUe 
lis  was 
.)iit  not 
for  the 
u  have 
hat  wo 
!  Apos- 

be  ill- 
Cancer 
?ss  and 
June  he 
-xtant,* 
mission. 

quitted 


drew  otV,  and  a>.  tlioy  hchdd  tlie  hlccdini^  scalp  ot'  their  devoted 
brother  lield  alol't,  lamented  that  his  olurious  plan,  crowned  with 
success  in  \'ern  J'az,  had  tailed  in  Florida.  CooKm*  minds  may 
treat  as  madn«»ss  tlie  conduct  of  Cancer,  hut  in  the  whole  liistorv 
of  our  missions  thei'c  is  not  a  nobler  episode  liiaii  the  attempt  of 
tliis  true  Dominican,  willinn^  to  shed  no  blood  i)Ut  his  own  in  win- 
ning sinnei"s  from  error,  and  seekinuj  in  an  nnarm«Ml  vessel,  and 
with  an  unarme<i  com})any,  to  achieve  the  peaceful  conquest  of  a 
land  already  deluged  in  blood.* 

The  next  missionaries  in  Florida  were  a  number  of  Donnnicans 
thrown  on  the  coast  by  shipwreck  in  155J}.  A  laige  vessel  carry- 
ing no  less  than  a  thousand  souls,  sailed  from  Vera  Cruz,  and  after 
leaving  Havana  was  driven  on  tlie  short'  of  Florida.  Seven  hun- 
dred perished;  thive  hundred  reache*]  the  liostile  coast ;  among 
them,  five  Dominicans,  Fatliers  Diego  d^;  la  Cruz,  Ferdinand  Men- 
dez,  and  John  Ferrer,  with  two  lay-hrotheis,  John  and  Mark  de 
Meiio.  The  survivors  liad  an  able  and  enei-getic  connnander,  who 
saved  a  cannon  with  annnunition,  and  inunediately  began  his  march 
for  Tampico,  then  the  frontier  town  of  Mexico.  His  way  lay 
through  hostile  tribes,  but  as  long  as  he  retaine<l  his  cannon,  lie 
kept  them  at  bay ;  at  last,  however,  lie  unfortunately  lost  it  and 
much  of  his  .immuiution  by  the  upsetting  of  a  raft  while  crossing 
a  rapid  river.  From  that  time  their  nundiers  were  rapidly  thinned. 
When  they  reached  the  Del  Xorte,  the  i>r'or,  Father  Diego  liad 


)nanes 

Is  sur  lu 

)portec 
Ine, the 
Liit  vas 
Dcoiulu 
lo  C'ro- 
|fu.  iK' 


*  Fiitlier  Louis  Cancer  de  Barbastro  was  a  native  ofSara^rossa,  and  liad  at 
nn  early  age  entered  the  Doniinican  order.  lie  came  to  America  in  1514  as 
Superior  of  a  band  of  missionaries.  His  liib(jrs  were  at  first  almost  unsuc- 
eesst'ul;  his  companions  died  around  him  of  want,  disease,  and  violence,  and 
at  the  expiration  of  nearly  thirty  years  he  r-tood  alone.  lie  then,  with  Father 
KiiK'on  and  Las  Casas,  undertook  to  evangelize  the  district  called  Ticrra  de 
Guerra,  Land  of  War,  but  having  converted  and  gained  all  the  native  tribes, 
the  missionaries  gave  it  the  name  of  Vera  I'az,  "True  Peace, "  which  it  still 
bears.  In  1547,  he  undertook  the  Florida  Mission,  which  we  have  detailed. 
Of  Father  Diego  de  Pefialosa,  1  find  only  that  he  was  a  native  of  Tolosa, 
Soo  Touron,  Hist,  de  I'Am.,  v.  265. 


60 


AMEIllCAN'    CATIIoLK:    MISSIONS. 


died  of  liis  wounds,  Fntlicr  Ferdinand  of  liardsliip,  r»rotl»or  Jolin 
de  Mena  had  been  sliot  tlirouo-li  tlie  l)ody,  ;ind  iJiother  Mark, 
pierced  by  seven  arrows,  liad  hoim  left  for  dead.  Father  ,)ohn 
Ferrer  liad  disappeared,  liavin<x  been  taken  prisoner  ])y  tlie  Indians. 
To  this  relicri<>us.  a  man  of  ennnent  ])ietv  J^nd  sanetitv,  common 
report  liad  long  attributed  prophetic  power.  Jiefore  they  sailed 
from  Mexico  he  had  said :  "Almost  all  of  us  will  die,  and  I  shall 
remain  hidden  in  distant  parts,  where  I  shall  live  for  several  years 
in  complete  health."  This  now  occurred  to  all,  and  as  his  predic- 
tion of  the  fearful  loss  had  been  realized,  it  was  generally  believ«'d 
that  he  remained  some  years  among  the  Indians,  where  he  doubt- 
less lost  no  occasion  of  instilling  into  their  minds  the  truths  of 
Christianity ;  but  no  tidings  of  him  ever  reached  the  Spanish 
colonv. 

Strange,  too,  was  the  fate  of  Brother  Mark  de  Mena.  lie  had, 
we  have  seen,  been  left  for  dead  ;  but  recoveiing  from  the  loss  of 
blood,  he  drew  out  the  arrows,  and  dressing  his  wounds  as  well  as 
he  could,  pursued,  and  at  last  overtook  the  fugitives.  The  exer- 
tion was,  however,  too  great ;  he  soon  sank,  and  his  companions, 
unable  to  carry  him,  buried  him  to  the  neck  in  the  sand  and  con- 
tinued their  flight,  but  soon  after  were  all  cut  to  pieces.  Brother 
Mark,  meanwhile,  had  rallied  again  ;  he  rose  from  his  grave,  and 
at  last,  with  wounds  corrupted  and  swarming  with  worms,  reached 
Tarapico,  sole  survivor  of  the  numbers  who  crowded  the  deck  of 
the  noble  vessel  that  had  left  San  Juan  de  Ulua  so  short  a  time 
before,  radiant  with  hope. 

This  severe  loss  induced  the  government  to  think  seriousR 
of  subduing  and  colonizing  the  northern  shore  of  the  Mexican 
gulf,  and  in  1559,  Don  Tristan  de  Luna  was  sent  with  1500  men 
in  thirteen  vessels  to  accomplish  it.  As  usual,  missionaries  attendetl 
the  expedition.  This  time  too  they  were  Dominicans,  Frai  Pedro 
de  Feria  being  Vicar-provincial.  The  othei"s  were  Fr.  Domingo 
de  la  Anunciation,  who  had  long  figured  in  the  busy  scenes  of 


SPANISH    MISSIONS. 


51 


T  John 
•  Mark, 
ir  John 
In<lians. 
lonnnon 
y  sailed 
i  I  sliall 
al  years 
i  prodic- 
bchovt'*! 
1?  doubt- 
rnths  of 
Spanish 

lie  had, 
le  loss  of 
3  well  as 
'he  exer- 
panions, 
nd  con- 
Brother 
ve,  and 
reached 
deck  ot* 
a  time 

}riousU' 

Hexican 

)0  men 

ttended 
Pedro 


)mingo 


hfe  as  l)i>M  Juan  de  Paz,  F.  Doininlc  de  Salazar,  uho  die<l  lirst 
l)ishoj)  ot'  Manilla  in  the  I'liihpjtinc  Isl.-tnds,  F.  John  Mazuelas,  K. 
Dominic  <»t'  St.  Dominic,  and  l'\  Iv-irtholonicw  Matiicos,  once  com- 
mander of  the  artillery  nnder  (ionzalo  IMzarro,  and  a  close  prisoner 


jnes 


of 


in  the  siH>se(|uent  troubles,  ^vho,  cscapinuf.  turned  Ins  hack  on  an 
ungrateful  world,  and enterinu^  a  convent  became  a  fervent  rcli^'ious. 
As  Don  Tiistan's  tleet  approached  the  fated  shore,  a  storm  arose 
bv  which  the  vessels  were  driven  on  the  shoals,  and  manv  were 
lost.  Amonij  those  who  perished  in  the  shipwreck  was  Father 
Partholomew.  The  survivors  landed,  rin  '  i:..4an  collectini;  what 
had  escaped,  sent  back  a  vessel  for  aid,  and  with  a  stout  heart  re- 
solved to  begin  his  colony.  ]lis  troo]>s  revolted,  and  he  himself 
hearing  flattering  accounts  of  Coosa,  a  kingdom  in  the  interior, 
marched  to  the  country  of  the  (^reeks,  attende<l  bv  Father  Domi- 
nic  of  the  Annunciation  and  Father  Salazar.  Tlie  Creeks  received 
the  new-comers  as  friends,  and  an  alliance  was  soon  formed.  To 
aid  his  new  allies,  the  Spanish  commander  marched  westward  to 
attack  the  Natchez  on  the  baid<s  of  the  Mississippi.  The  mis- 
sionaries accompanied  him,  and  on  liis  n-turn  to  Coosa  labon-d 
earnestly  to  convert  the  fri<'ndly  Creeks,  but  their  etlorts  were  not 
crowned  with  success,  and  only  a  few  baptisms  of  <lying  infants 
and  adults  rewarded  their  zeal.  Meanwhile  the  other  missionaries 
who  liad  been  left  at  the  coast,  returned  to  ^fexico  to  mge  expe- 
ditious relief.  The  remainder  of  the  party  at  the  coast  had  become 
divided  into  factions,  and  these  increased  after  the  commander's 
return,  as  he  on  his  part  showed  a  stern  unbending  spirit  ;  but  tlie 
missionanes,  true  to  their  calling,  restored  peace,  by  a  touching 
appeal  to  the  faith  and  religious  feeling  of  Don  Tristan,  on  Palm 
Sunday  in  15G1.  Tw»  days  after  the  reconciliation  the  long  ex- 
pected relief  arrived,  with  Don  Angel  de  \'iilafane,  the  new  gov- 
ernor of  Florida,  and  three  new  missionaries,  Father  J(jhn  de  Con- 
treras,  the  lay-brother,  Matthew  of  the  Mother  of  God,  and  Father 
Gregory  de  Beteta,  the  companion  of  Cancer,  who,  after  having 


52 


AMEKICAN    CATJIOLIC    MISSIONS. 


''! 


ienounce<l  tln^  sco  ot'Cartli;ii(<'n;i,  was  liasteiiiiii^  iu  Spain,  wlieii  he 
Jjeard  of  tli«3  Florida  expedition,  and  at  once  joined  it  to  labor  in 
the  field  of  liis  cailv  choice.  Jhit  when  the  new  ODvernor  beheld 
liow  little  had  oeen  done,  he  rest>lved  to  abandon  hloiida,  to  the 
great  joy  of  those  who  lind  long  urged  Tristan  to  ado]»t  that 
course.  Angel,  accordingly,  soon  set  sail,  taking  with  him  most 
of  tlie  Spaniards  and  several  of  tlie  missionaries,  who,  disheartened 
by  their  fruitless  labors  aiiiong  the  Creeks,  despaired  of  success. 
Don  Tristan,  unbroken  In'  disaster,  remained  with  a  few  resolute 
men,  and  the  intrepid  Father  Salazar  and  Urother  Mattliew,  who 
botli  resolved  to  labor  on.  Tristan  wrote  a  pressing  letter  to  the 
Viceroy  to  urge  him  to  pro(;eed  with  the  projected  settlement,  but 
tlie  reports  spread  by  tlie  disalfected  members  of  the  expedition 
were  such,  that  a  vessel  was  sent  back  with  positive  orders  for 
Don  Tristan  to  return.  To  this  command  he  yielded,  and  the  colony 
and  mission  of  Santa  Cruz  in  IVnsacola  ]'>av  were  abandoned.* 


*  Ensnyo  CronMoglco,  ann.  looO  ;  Touron,  Ilistoirc  cle  I'AmLTiquc,  vii.  122, 
xiii.  216. 

Of  these  niissionarics  several  were  reniarka])le  men.  Fatlier  Peter  Martinez 
do  Feria,  the  vice-provincial,  was  born  at  Feriu ;  and  havinj?  entered  the 
Dominican  convent  of  St.  Stephen  at  Sahimanca,  made  his  profession  in 
154:0.  He  came  to  America  witli  Father  ]>ctnnz<)s  and  Moffucr,  and  labored 
many  years  on  the  mission,  composinjj;  works  in  Indian  lanijuages  for  the  use 
of  his  neophytes,  lie  was  successively  prior,  provincial,  and  procurator  of 
the  Mexican  mission,  and  tinally  bishoj)  of  Cliiapas  in  1574.  lie  died  iu  his 
Episcopal  see  in  158S.     Touron,  Hist,  do  TAm.  v.  OS,  vi.  333. 

Father  Gregory  de  Beteta,  of  an  ancient  family  in  Leon,  after  a  youth  of 
piety  entered  the  Dominican  convent  at  Salamanca,  and  was  one  of  the 
twenty  relij^fious  of  his  order  who  came  to  America  with  Father  Ortiz  in 
152',t.  (Touron,  i.  121t.)  He  labored  first  in  St.  Domingo,  then  at  Santa  Mar- 
tha, after  which  we  find  him  in  Mexico,  and  as  wc  have  shown,  a  compan- 
ion of  Cancer  in  his  Florida  mission.  Subsequently  to  this  he  again  labored 
at  Santa  Martha  till  1555,  when  he  heard  of  his  nomination  to  the  see  of 
Carthagcna.  To  avoid  this  he  proceeded  to  Florida,  but  as  his  resignation 
was  not  accepted,  he  hastened  to  Eome,  and  obtaining  his  discharge  from 
the  onerous  task  of  governing  a  diocese,  retired  to  a  convent  in  Toledo, 
whore  he  died  in  15(52.  He  left  in  America  a  reputation  of  a  most  suc- 
cessful and  holy  missionary.     Touron,  Hist,  de  TAni.  xiii.  216. 

7.  Dominic  do  Salazar,  before  his  nomination  to  the  see  of  Manilla  in  tlir 


wliuii  he 
J  labor  ill 
or  beheld 
\a,  to  the 
l()j»t  tli:it 
liiii  most 
lieai'teiied 
if  success. 
•  resolute 
!»e\v,  Avho 
ter  to  the 
lueiit,  but 
'X|)e(litioii 
:)i'dei's  for 
lie  colony 
loiied* 

le,  vii.  122, 

r  Martinez 
Intorecl  tlic 
lessiion  in 
(1  labored 
for  the  use 
curator  of 
ilieJ  in  his 

youth  of 
c  of  the 
Ortiz  in 
lanta  Mar- 
coinpan- 
ki  hibored 
lie  BCC  of 
Isij^nation 
Irtre  from 
Toledo, 
kiost  sue- 

llla  in  till' 


CIIAPTEK    II 

FLOUIDA  MISSION'. 

rioridii  colonized  by  Mi'li'ii(loz--Iniliun  missions  ftttctniitcd  by  tlio  Doinitiicatis  in 
Vir:,'ini;i — Missions  actually  bcirun  by  tlie  .Icsnits — Dciitli  of  Father  Miirtlncz — Labors 
of  F.  liojrtT  anil  ntlurs  in  the  poninsiila  and  in  (icor;:ia — Dilliciiltics  and  trials- 
Indian  school  at  Havana— Arrival  of  a  Virdnian  cliicf- Mission  jjroposcd— F.  S»';:iira 
and  his  companions  sail  I'or  the  Chesapeake— Treachery  of  the  chief — The  inissiimarifS 
are  put  to  death — Knd  of  the  .Fesuit  mission — The  Franciscans  a|)pear— licirular 
missions  beKim—I'liilolo:.'ical  labors  of  I'areja — Various  missions  of  the  l'"atiiers — 
Sudden  plot,  the  missionaries  put  to  death — liestoralion  of  the  Florida  mission. 

Tin:  motive  ^vhi('h  im}»elled  the  attempt  made  by  l>on  Tristan 
de  Luna  soon  indticed  a  more  successful  one,  which  re:  ulted  in  tin; 
settlement  of  St.  Augustine.  A'essel  after  vessel  was  lost  on  the 
coast  or  am(»ni;  the  dano-erous  kevs  of  Florida,  and  in  1501,  a 
storm  scattered  the  great  India  fleet  which  bore  from  Mexico  the 
treasures  that  colony  annually  poiu'ed  into  the  lap  of  Spain.  One 
of  tlie  vessels  disappeared — whether  driven  ou  the  coast  or  swal- 


Philippines,  had  been  a  zealous  missionary  in  Mexico.  lie  came  to  America 
with  Bctetu  in  l.")20,  and  was  lonir  the  companion  of  his  toils. 

Father  Dominic  of  the  Annunciation,  whoso  secular  name  was  Don  Juan 
(le  Ecija,  was  born  at  Fuente  de  Ovcjuna,  in  Andalusia,  in  1510.  Accompa- 
nyinj;  his  brother  Ferdinand  to  America,  he  at  last  witncssinjjf  the  follies  and 
mistbrtunes  of  Ferdinand,  entered  the  Dominican  convent  of  Mexico  in 
1.">;^.1.  lie  was  soon  an  accomplislied  Indian  missionary,  and  drew  up  a 
Catechism  and  Prayer-book  in  tlie  lanfruaire  of  his  converts,  which  was 
printed  at  Mexico  in  11345.  His  career  was  that  of  a  Saint ;  and  he  died  amid 
the  rcirrets  of  all  on  the  14th  of  March,  loOl,  after  luivimr  evangelized  almost 
every  province  in  Mexico,  and  converted  thousands  by  his  preachinjr,  his 
miracles,  and  his  sanctity. 

He  wrote  historicid  skelches  of  the  early  Dominican  mis.-ionarles  in  Mc\ico, 
wliich,  it  is  feared,  are  lost.    Toiiron,  Hist,  do  TAui.  vii.  100. 


5-A 


AMKKICAN    CATHOLIC    MI.SSlONS. 


,    \\\ 


lowed  u|»  ill  the  ttcfaii,  n<nu'  onAd  \c\\.  In  it  wnc  lost  ilu-  only 
son,  ,'in<l  ni.-my  a  it'Iativ*'  an<l  iftaiiicr  of  ihc  hraNc  ami  <MU'rjLft'ti<; 
JVdro  M»'loinl('Z  do  Avilc-s,  tli<'  tli>t  naval  connuainltT  of  his  day. 
Long  had  liis  bannor  floated  on  tli«.'  M^ditt'iTanoan,  tlic  Atlantic, 
and  tln'  North  Soa,  and  well  liad  he  sfrwd,  at  liis  own  exjicnM', 
his  royal  master  nLjainst  tlie  Corsairs  and  tlie  French;  but  like 
Cohnnbus,  when  liis  broken  liealtli  and  n-soiuves  ontitletl  liini  to 
n  rich  reward,  his  cup  of  inisfortun«'  was  iilK'd  to  the  brim.  I'n- 
abie  to  wait  and  search  tor  his  son,  lie  proceeded  on  his  voyage, 
intending  to  tit  out  an  expedition  for  that  j)nr}H)se  as  soon  as  he 
arrived  in  Spain  ;  but  on  reaching  Seville,  ho  was  arrested  and 
iinpiisoned  on  a  frivolous  charge,  made  by  some  officers,  who 
little  brooked  the  strict  discipline  of  the  old  admiral.  In  that 
hour  all  turned  against  him.  J  Jail  was  refused,  his  senices  and 
l>aternal  feelinu's  were  alike  forijotten,  and  every  delav  was  made 
in  the  ))rocess  aii'ainst  him.  For  nearly  two  years  he  linLr<'red  in 
prison.  He  then  sought  the  }>resence  of  I'hilip  Ih,  who  had  known 
him  long  and  well.  As  a  sole  reward  for  his  p;ust  services,  he 
asked  permission  to  sail  in  search  of  his  son  ;  thence  to  return  to 
his  castle,  and  spend  his  remaining  years  in  the  service  of  God. 
Hope  never  forsook  him  :  he  believed  his  son  to  be  among  the 
Indians,  or  in  the  hands  of  French  jtirates ;  and,  if  alive,  he  de- 
spaired not  of  rescuing  the  hojie  f>f  his  old  Asturian  house. 
Philip  favored  bis  request,  and  oti'ered  him  a  grant  of  Florida, 
with  the  title  of  adelantado,  but  on  very  onerous  conditions. 
These  Melendez  accepted,  and  employed  the  remnant  of  his  pro)>- 
erty  to  fit  out  an  expedition.  r)y  the  charter  which  he  received, 
he  was  to  take  out  tweKe  friars  and  four  Jesuits,  as  missionaries 
for  Florida.  -■" 

While  the  adelantado  was  preparing  for  the  expedition,  news 
arrived  that  a  French  post  was  actually  formed  on  the  coast  of 
Florida:  this  gave  a  new  ehaiaeter  to  the  whole  afiair,  and  the 
first   object  now  was  to  destioy  that  settlement.     To  attain  this 


SI'AMSll    MI.sslUNS. 


55 


tli<'  only 

I"  Ills  (l;iy. 
Atl.'tiitic, 

»'X|H'll.M', 

but  lik<- 
'(]  ]iin)  to 
iiu.     I'li- 
s  vovairo, 
oon  as  he 
}stetl  and 
jers,  \vlio 
111  that 
vices  and 
vas  inad«^ 
iLfcivd  in 
id  known 
r\  ices,  !n' 
return  to 
1  of  God. 
iK^ni:;  the 
|e,  he  de- 
ll  liouse. 
Florida, 
iditions. 
is  proj)- 
[eceived, 
[ionaries 

b,  news 

[oast  ot" 

n«l  th<' 

lin   thin 


en<K  tlio  court  reqiiiifd  .Nhleiidez  to  take  out  a  larrjo  (ow^.  Sonio 
little  ai<l  was  j^iv«'ii  by  the  kiln,^  and  his  whole  annainent  eonsi>t- 
e<l  ot'  LM54t)  men,  in  thirty-tour  vessels.  The  j>riests  whe  were  se- 
lecte<l,  thouofh  all  did  not  sail  or  arrive  in  Florida,  weif  elcNcn 
Franeis«'ans,  one  Father  of  the  order  «)f  .Nh'icy,  a  secular  j)rie^t,  and 
«ii;ht  Jesuits. 

'I'iie  lleet  was  assailed  by  storms,  some  vessels  wri**  lost,  several 
])Ut  back,  one  was  taken  l>y  French  <Muisers  near  Havana,  .iiid 
onlv  a  small  number  reached  the  coast  of  Fh^rida,  and  anchored 
iH'ar  the  Frem*h  sliijis  and  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  .b'hii.  The 
sequel  is  well  known  :  the  Fn^nch  ships  ])Ut  to  sea,  followed  by 
Melendez,  who  failini!:  to  overtake  them,  entered  St.  AuLTUstine's 
river,  and  bcLMii  to  throw  u[)  a  fort.  Hither  he  was  pursued  in 
tnni  by  the  French  tleel,  which  could  not  enter  the  river,  and 
was  soon  after  wrecked  ;  while  Melendez  attacked  their  tort  by 
land,  took  it,  and  put  all  to  the  sword,  as  soon  after  he  did  iiio.st 
of  those  wlio  liad  escaped  shipwreck.  Whether  in  this  treatment 
of  the  French  lluijfuenots  he  lee-arded  tlieiii  as  pirates,  or  as  par- 
ties perhaps  in  the  death  of  his  son,  or  acted  in  obedience  to  tin. 
orders  of  Philip,  or  to  his  own  persecutini;  spirit,  can  ni'ver  be 
kiiown,  but  in  no  point  of  view  can  his  conduct  In?  justitied. 

St.  Autrustine  was  now  founded,  and  some  reliijfious  beijan  tlu'ir 
functions  there,  but  of  them  and  their  labors  we  know  notiiiiii; 
jH^sitive.  Two  clergymen,  I)on  Solis  de  Meras  and  the  chaplain, 
Francis  Lo|x*z  de  Meiidoza,  are  known  as  chroniclers  of  the  «'xpe- 
dition,  but  ffive  no  account  of  aiiv  inissionarv  effort.  Once  estab- 
lished,  liowever,  at  St.  Aur^ustine,  MeleiidOz  sent  detachments  U) 
tlirow  up  forts  along  tlie  coast  ;  and  having  with  him  the  brother 
of  a  chief  of  Axacan  in  St.  Mary's  Bay,  which  lying  37^  X.,  niu>t 
be  Chesapeake  Bay,  sent  liim,  witli  some  Dominicans  and  a  party 
of  soldiers,  to  bcfjin  a  mission  and  build  a  fort  in  \'iie:inia. 
x\larmed  by  stormy  weather,  and  unable  to  lind  the  port,  these  mis- 
sionaries sailed   to  Spain,  where    the    chief  was   bapti/.ed    by   the 


50 


AMKIUCAN    CATIIOMC    MISSIONS. 


iiMiiK'  of  hoii  I.uis  N'rljisco.*  Mcl«'inl«'Z  was,  llOWOVtT,  ttX)  tl«'«'plv 
int«'i'(*stiM|  iti  tlicst!  Iiitliaii  iuis.si(His  to  mIIow  (Mu;  lailuro  to  (iaiii|i 
lii.H  zeal.  <U\  his  own  return  to  Spain,  lie  ai>j)li»'<l  to  St.  Francis  IJor- 
<^ia,  tlu'ii  reeently  electeil  (Jeiieial  of  tlie  Society  ot*.r«'sus,  and  ob- 
tained a  promise  ot'  missionaries  for  lij.s  coloiiv.  Acc<.)rdin!xlv,  in 
.hnie,  I  odd,  Katlier  IVter  Maritiiez,  an  old  and  well-tried  mission- 
ary. Father  .John  lioijer,  and  llrother  \'illaroal,  emharkefl  at  San 
I-ucar.  On  the  voyae^e,  the  small  Flemish  vessel  in  which  they 
sailed,  was  separated  from  the  tleet  hy  a  storm,  and  driven  on  the 
coast  of  Floritla.  Without  either  chart  <»r  pilot,  they  had  no 
means  (»f  reachini,^  St.  AuLjustiiie.  In  this  dilennna,  F'ather  Marti- 
nez voluntei-red  to  e^o  ashore  in  the  boat,  and  nuike  inquiries  of 
the  natives  as  t<»  the  nearest  Kiu'opean  settlement.  While  ashore, 
a  stoiiii  suildeiily  came  on,  by  which  the  vessel  was  driven  out  to 
sea,  an«l  the  missionar\  and  liis  companions  left  destitute  on  the 
coast.  Their  only  hope  now  was  to  reach  the  nearest  s«'ttli'ment, 
and  discoverinLT  the  proper  <lirection,  they  followed  the  coast  in  their 
boat ;  but  when  almost  in  sii>ht  of  San  Mateo,f  and  exhanste<l  by 
hardship  and  famine,  they  were  attacked  by  the  natives,  and 
Father  Martinez,  who  had  in  vain  endeavored  to  save  his  connades, 
was  put  to  death.  'Jhe  rest  of  the  party,  with  one  exet'|»tion, 
es(;aped,  and  soon  after  reached  a  place  of  safety. 

The  death  of  Martinez  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  mission,  not 
only  from  the  fact  of  his  beini;  the  Superior,  but  also  as  his  abili- 
ties were  of  a  rare  order,  his  zeal  and  virtues  the  theme  of  j^'eneral 
admiration.^     On  learning  his  death,  which  occurred  September 


*  Ens,  rronolofr'ioo.  t  A  fort  at  tlie  mouth  of  tho  St.  .Tohii'a. 

X  Father  Peter  Martinez  was  born  on  tlio  I'jth  of  October,  looJJ,  at  Celil.-J, 
in  the  diocese  of  Sarii<?ossa,  anJ  was  allied  by  blood  to  tho  Cardinal  Arch- 
binhop  of  Toledo.  Devoting  himself  in  ciiiMhood  to  God  by  vow,  ho  was  so 
zealous  a  student  that  at  twenty  he  received  his  de^rrec  of  n»astcr.  Aeeidenl 
led  him  to  tiie  Society  of  .lesiis,  into  wliieli  he  was  received  at  Valencia,  iu 
1008.  His  first  labors  as  a  luissiomiry  were  in  tlie  neitrliborhood  of  that  city. 
Some  years  after,  he  was  sent  :i<  v\\i\\>\  liii  olan  expeilition  uirainst  one  of  tin. 


SPANISH    MISSIONS. 


<Jt 


[o  *laiii|i 
iicis  |{i»r- 
,  aiul  «)l)- 
iiiuflv,  ill 
iiiissi(»n- 
l  at  San 
icli  tlii'V 
n  on  the 

liad  Do 
or  Marti- 
an i  lies  of 
0  ashore, 
:i\  out  to 
u  on  thf 
ttlcnit'Mt, 
pt  in  their 

stetl  l»v 
s,  an<) 
jnuades, 

ceptioii, 

ion,  not 
is  ahiU- 
o;eneral 
)teniber 


t  CeUln, 

il  Arch- 

was  so 

ocuU'rU 

Incia,  iu 

lit  v'ltj. 

or  tin. 


2S,  l'ath«T  lloLjfr  ami  Urolhcr  \'illarial  i<iii.  .|  to  |la\ana,  an<l,  at 
tin-  iiixtancr  ul"  Mclcndcz,  s|M'iit  thf  uintrr  in  studviiiij  the  laiiuuaiif 
dl'  llir  province  ot'  ( 'arlos,  as  tlie  part  of  Kluriihi  lu-ar  t'ajK'  t'on- 
navi'ral  was  then  calliil.  <  >('  this  (lial«M't  tlit-y  (hrw  up  Muahiila- 
rit's,  by  the  iiclp  of  thf  natives  tih-n  in  Havana,  ulioni  tliey  at  tlie 
same  time  instrnctnl  in  tlie  taith.  In  l'"<  hruary,  they  orosseil  o\«r 
to  tliat  jirovincc  with  .Nh'lcnile/,  and  hciran  a  mission.  As  soon  tm 
the  LTovernor  had  estahlisladpeae*'  hetweeii  the  \aiions  Indian  tiihes, 
and  founded  a  post,  he  e»tmmend<'d  the  mi.ssioii  earnestly  to  Father 
Ko«;ei',  and  proccodt-d  with  Ihtdher  N'iHareal  to  Tecjueste,  where 
li(^  eonuneneed  anutiier  establislimmt,  and  oon  after  sailed  back 
to  Spain.  * 

The  people  amon(r  whom  Jioi^er  and  ^  illareal  now  betjan  their 
mi-^sion,  were  evidently  a  branch  of  he  Civeks,  aixl  far  from  hav- 
iiii;  made  any  ]iroi^r«'ss  in  the  aris  of  lit*  .  Like  ihe  iiiiiabitants  of 
the  West  India  islands,  they  were  entirely  na''  i  ,  the  women  alone 
wearini;  a  scanty  apron  of  skins  or  ^r"»is. — proof  tha'  nodesfy  is 
inherent  in  the  sev.  Their  houses  >v(>n.  "(»nstructe<.l  of  upri«^ht 
loi^,  meetinj^  at  the  top  ;  their  be<|^  were  a  kind  of  raised  piiu- 
form,  under  which  a  tire  could  be  made,  to  dispel  tiio  nnis(|uitoes 
hv  the  smoke.  I'olvijamv  was  miiversal,  or  rather  marriai'e  as  a 
pel nianent  state  was  unknown.  Their  ums  and  utensils  were  of 
the  rudest  descrij)tion,  and  their  wanderinij  disposition  and  almost 
entire  ncQ^lect  of  aii;riculture,  ])resented  great  obstacles  to  tiie  intro- 
duction of  the  faith.  TIk;  Jesuits,  however,  aj)plied  themselves 
earnestly  to  the  ^reat  work  •  and  meanwliile  Melen<iez,  in  Sj»ain, 
was  seeking  auxiliaries  for  ;  .  n.  St.  Francis  IJoruia  listened  to 
liis  ajiplication  for  more  njissionaries,  and  formed  Florida  into  a 


liarbary  States,  and  was,  fnr  some  time,  cinploycd  at  Ornn,  then  at  Toledo 
and  other  parts  of  Spain.  He  was  n  professed  Father,  well  known  to  St. 
Franeis  Ror^ia,  who  selected  hitn  to  found  the  Florida  mission,  as  a  man  of 
Icarnint:,  zeal,  Iniiiiility,  and  u  Invo  of  sulVerin<rs.  His  di-ath  took  j)lace  near 
the  eoiiimenceinent  of  Octubcr,  l.")()t;.  Aletramhe,  p.  4-1;  Tanner,  p.  -i-i.")} 
Hrews,  Fjisti  S.  J. ;  Knsayo  Cronolopieo,  p.  120;  Sacchini,  p.  71,  &c. 

8* 


-m 


68 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


vice-})roviiico  of  the  onlor,  Father  Jv)lin  Uaplist  Segura,  of  To- 
ledo, Avas  selected  as  vice-pi'oviiicial,  and  v  itli  him  were  sent  Father 
(Jou/alo  del  Alamo,  of  Cordova  ;  Father  John  de  la  (,'arrera,  of 
l*ontfenada ;  Anthony  Sedeno,  of  St.  Clements;  with  J  brothers 
Auirustine  13acz,  John  liaptist  M(;n(lez,  Gabriel  de  Solis,  re(h(» 
Kuiz,  John  Salcedo,  Christoi>ht'r  Iti'dondo,  and  I'eter  J^inaies. 
With  these,  Melendez,  now  a])pointed  ijovernor  of  Cuba,  sail<'<l 
early  in  1508,  and  arrived  safely  at  Havana,  Avhither  Itogt-r  had 
temporarily  returned.  The  Vi(('-j>rovin(.'ial  held  consuhations 
with  the  missionaries  already  on  tht?  uTound,  and  full  of  zeal, 
formed  a  j>lan  of  aetion.  The  edueation  of  yoimij  Indians  in 
Christian  prin<'ii)les  was  deemed  tlu-  most  eflieaeious  means  of  ad- 
vancing th(?  mission  ;  and  Father  liogcr  and  Drother  N'illareal 
being-  already  acquainted  with  the  language,  were  apj)oinled  to 
begin  at  Havana  an  Indian  school  for  Florida  childicn,  while  the 
Vice-i)rovi!Jcial  and  his  companions  proceeded  to  Florida,  to  make 
their  novitiate  in  missionary  life,  and  a(^quire,  amid  the  hardships 
of  an  apostolic  career,  the  rudiments  of  the  language.  They  accord- 
ingly took  post  at  various  jxiints  in  the  jn'ovince  of  Carlos  already 
mentioned,  ni  Tequesta,  still  farther  north,  and  in  Tocobaga,  which 
lay  on  Apalache  Bay.  Here  they  labored  for  some  time,  studying 
the  language  and  manners  of  the  peo})le,  prea<'hing  by  interpreters, 
and  of  course  with  little  success.  Father  Sedeno  and  ]3rother 
liaez,  who  began  a  station  at  Isle  (Juale,  probably  Amelia  Island, 
were  more  fortunate. 

In  15GG,  Father  lioger  was  sent  to  St.  Helena,  or  Crista,*  as  it 
wjis  then  called,  and  after  giving  the  col  mists  established  in  that 
cradle  of  Carolina  the  succors  of  religion,  struck  inland  with  three 
companions,  to  announce  the  gospel  to  the  native  tribes.  Here 
tbis  Father  met  a  race  far  superior  to  those  whom  he  had  previously 
encountered,  and  who  were,  in  all  probability,  a  branch  of  the 


*  The  Chicoia  of  Avllon. 


Sl'ANLSIl    .MISSIONS. 


b\) 


»,  of  To- 
ll Fatlier 
iurern,  of 
I)  rot  I K' is 
is,  IV'dro 
Linaivs. 
)a,  sail('(l 
dgi'V  lia<l 
■iultatiotis 
of  y.oal, 
idiaiis  ill 
us  of  a<l- 
\'illart'al 
Diiitctl  to 
viiilc  tile 
,  to  make 
liardsliips 
ac('Oi<]- 
alieady 
ra,  which 

-tudyitig 

M'prolers, 

liiothor 

I  Island, 

Ifi,*  as  it 

in  that 

111  three 

Here 

K'ioiislv 

of  tho 


Chcrokces.  8n|K'rior  to  the  Creeks  in  many  respects,  they  ^vere  a 
sedate  and  thoui::htful  race,  and  dweliini;'  in  jx-acr  in  tln-ir  native 
mountains,  whonce  they  defied  their  enemies  at  the  north  and 
south,  thcv  cultivated  their  fields,  and  lived  in  prosperity  and 
plenty.  Tlieir  morals  were  far  superior  to  those  of  the  lowlantl 
races  :  nolvfamv  was  miknown  ;  and  men  and  women,  hv  their 
vt'iv  aspect,  li^avc'  tokens  of  a  hiijlicr  state  of  culture.  lnspir«'d 
with  hopes,  Hofrer  devoted  himself  to  the  laniinjao;e  of  the  nrw- 
found  trihe  with  such  assiduity,  that  in  six  months  he  had  mastered 
its  dilliculties,  and  uas  ahlo  to  announce  intelli^dhly  to  his  neo- 
phvtes  the  mysteries  of  our  relij^don.  While  in  their  amazed  ears 
he  proclaimed  doctrines  never  heard  hefore,  of  a  sinu^le  Almiijhty 
Deity,  who  rewarded  and  punished  as  he  had  ci'eated  man,  and 
who  reserved  for  them  all  mansions  of  hliss  or  woe,  which  it  was 
theirs  to  choose,  they  listened  with  attention  ;  and  (juestions,  curi- 
ous indeed,  yet  earnest,  showed  tiiat  the  Indian  had  l»ecom«'  in- 
terested in  the  new  doctrine.  The  fond  hopes  of  the  missionary 
soon  vanislied,  how«'ver.  The  time  had  come  for  jjatherinuf  th''ir 
winter  store,  and  all  j)lun<^ed  into  the  woods,  leaving;  their  teacher 
hatHed  for  the  moment,  hut  still  couraijeous.  His  efforts  were  re- 
newed when  the  tribe  assembled  aijain  in  the  followinu;  year,  Init 
witl»  equal  want  of  success.  Meanwhile  Sedeiio  returned  to 
(niale,  where  h<*  was  disheartened  to  find  that  l>aez,  after  ten 
months'  labor,  had  sunk  a  \  ictim  to  the  climate.  In  this  province 
neither  the  labors  of  Jiaez  nor  those  of  Sedefio,  Se<,nira,  and  Alamo 
had  produc»'<l  any  result  bt-yond  the  baptism  of  four  infants  and 
three  dyinor  adults.  The  missions  which  had  been  renewed 
amoni^  the  Creek  tribes  had  proved  equally  ineffectual,  and  the 
Jesuits  were  about  to  abandon  so  unpromisincf  a  field — to  abandon 
it  as  they  ha<l  no  other — without  Innurr  driven  from  it,  when 
blo(»d  and  toil  alike  had  failed.  No  hope  of  martyrdom,  evi-n, 
roused  their  zeal  to  new  efforts  :  they  decided  that  the  mission  wa> 
uuj>raetical>le,  and  so  announced  if  to  their  superiors  in  Europe. 


60 


A.MKHK'AN    CATlloLlC    MISSIONS. 


llie  Florida  mission  lia(J,  liowewr,  nttracted  tlie  eyes  of  the 
Christian  worM.  Not  only  th»'  illustrious  head  of  their  or(J«'r,  tho 
sainted  liori^ia,  and  the  Sfcuiish  monarch,  still  uri^ed  the  ^\v.\i 
work  of  christiani/ini;  the  natives  <tf  the  colony,  but  tin'  Sove- 
reiiL^n  Pontiff  himself  addressed  a  brief  to  the  (iovernor  c)f  Klori<la 
to  excite  liis  zeal  in  the  cause.*  In  this  earliest  docun)ent  from 
the  Holy  Se<*,  relative  to  the  cfmversion  of  our  Indian  triU-s.  and 
their  advancement  in  <ivilization,  St.  l*iusV.  lavs  down  a  doctrine 


*   To  our  leloced  son  ami  nohlc  Lii;I  J'cdrc  Mdind-z  <le  Aciks.  Vlcvroji  in  the 


proviHir  oj  r  Ittnda  in  t/t>j)iirf,i  of  India : 
Ik'Iovcd  Son  and  noble  Sir — 

Health,  ffrace,  ami  tlic  blcss'mij  of  our  Lord  be  with  you.     Amen 

We  rejoice  prcatly  to  hear  that  our  dear  and  beloved  son  in  Christ,  IMiilip, 
Catholic  KiiiiT,  has  iiaiiiL-d  and  apiioiiitcd  you  (Iovernor  of  Florida,  croatiii*,' 
you  adelaiitado  thereof;  f  >r  we  hoar  such  an  account  of  your  person,  and  so 
full  and  satisfactory  a  report  of  your  virtue  and  nobility,  that  we  believe, 
without  hesitation,  that  .\ou  will  not  only  faithfully,  dilii^ently,  and  carefully 
perforin  the  order>  and  insiructioiis  (/iven  ytiu  i)y  so  Catholic  a  kinir,  but 
trust  also  that  yon,  by  your  discrctinnand  habit,  will  doall  to  olTect  the  increase 
of  our  holy  Catholic  faith,  and  gain  n)orc  souls  to  God.  I  am  well  aware,  as 
you  know,  that  it  is  necessary  to  frovern  these  Indians  with  ^'ood  sense 
and  discretion:  that  those  who  are  weak  in  the  faith,  from  bciufj  newly 
converted,  l>o  contirrne<l  and  strcnirthcnod  ;  and  idolaters  be  converted,  and 
receive  the  faith  of  Ciirist,  that  the  fnrnier  may  praise  God,  knowing  the 
benefit  of  his  divine  mercy,  an<l  the  latter,  still  infidels,  nuiy,  by  the  exam- 
ple a.id  jnodtl  of  tlmsc  now  out  of  lilindness,  l)e  broutrht  to  a  knowle(li,'c 
of  tie  truth:  but  nothinir  is  more  important,  in  the  conversion  of  these 
Indians  and  idolaters,  than  to  endeavor  by  all  means  to  prevent  scandal 
beinf?  {iiven  by  the  vices  and  immoralities  of  such  as  pro  to  those  western 
parts.  This  is  the  key  of  this  holy  work,  in  which  is  included  the  whole 
essence  of  your  charj.'c. 

You  see,  noble  sir,  without  my  alludintr  to  it,  how  preat  an  opportunity 
is  otV<red  you,  in  t'urthcring  and  aidinir  this  cause,  from  which  result- 
1st,  Hervinp  the  Almiirhty  ;  'Jd,  Inereasiii','  the  name  of  }0ur  kimr,  who  will 
bo  esteemed  by  men,  iovcvl  ainl  rewarded  by  (Jod. 

Giving  you,  tiicn,  our  ]>atcrnal  and  apostolical  blessing,  we  beg  and 
charge  you  to  give  ful'  faith  and  credit  to  our  brother,  the  Archbishop  of 
Kossano,  who,  in  our  name,  will  explain  our  desire  more  at  length. 

(Ji*en  at  Konu-,  with  tiie  lishenuan's  ring,  on  the  18th  day  of  August, 
in  the  year  of  our  IJcdemption  laGO,  tho  third  of  our  pontificate. — Knsaii> 
( ^f'tiiolot/ico,  i^nn.  IVlit. 


•s  of  tlie 
(idtT,  tiki 
lie  ^ivat 
he  Sove- 
if  Floiiila 
cut  tVolll 
Hm's,  and 
doctrine 


vvoy  in  the 


ist,  riiilip, 
a,  crcatiiiir 
;on.aiul  ^^o 
,-e  bolie'vc, 
cl  carefully 
I  kiii^',  but 
lieiiKToasf 
awaro,  as 

OOtl    S(.'MSf 

ijr  newly 
•rteil,  Hn<l 

)\villi,'  tlio 

le  exain- 

iio\vlo«l<;c 

ot"  these 

seaiulal 

western 

le  whole 

lortunity 
result — 
who  will 

|>e;;    anil 
[ishoj>  nf 

Vuffust, 


.SI'ANISH    MI.^SIUNS. 


61 


now  sanciionctl  l»y  tlif  t'XjH'vit'nct'  ottlin'c  ccnturii's.  "  Notliin<i^," 
savs  ho,  "  is  more  inii>oitant  in  tin-  conviTsion  of  tiu'sc  ludians 
and  idolaters,  than  to  endeavor  hy  all  means  to  pi'event  scandal 
being  i^iven  i<,  t'le  vices  and  iniinoralitit's  of  siieh  as  jro  to  those 
Western  ))ar(s."  AVhere  this  moral  harrier,  spoken  <)f  hy  the  lioly 
I'onfitf,  was  suceessfnlly  raised,  the  Indian  piosperivl  ;  wheie.  as 
in  our  Knj^lish  colonies,  none  such  «'xiste(l,  the  tiihes  dwindled 
awav,  contao-ious  vices  destroviiiij:  them  more  silently  and  stnclv 
than  war  or  agcfression.  The  i>m1  man  has  disap])eaied  trom  the 
peat  part  of  oin-  territory,  and  it  were  well  to  retleei  a  moment 
whether  we  are  o'liiltless  of  his  destruction,  i)et(>re  we  speak  of 
Sj>anish  ci'uelty. 

Kre  the  letter  of  St.  J*ius  reached  Klorida,  the  courau'eous 
Father  Roger  made  one  more  elloit  to  plant  a  mission.  He  re- 
turned to  his  post,  hut  found  his  house  and  chaj)el  destroye<l. 
Tn  vain  he  preached  the  woi<l  of  tmth.  llopeh-ss  (»f  ohtaining 
conviction  directly,  he  adopte<l  a  new  |>lan  :  hy  extolling  the  ad- 
vantages to  he  deiived  fiom  a  thorough  and  I'egular  cultivation  of 
the  ground,  he  iinluced  the  natives  t(»  attempt  it,  and  thus  found- 
e<l  a  re(luction.  hands  were  chosen;  agricultural  implements 
jtrocurecl ;  twenty  coimnodious  houses  raised;  and  the  Indians 
had  alrea<ly  ma<le  some  progress,  sulKcient  to  exciter  the  most 
favorahle  hojies,  when  all  again  vanished.  Their  natiu'al  tickle- 
ness  j)revailed  ;  deaf  to  the  entreaties  an<l  remcdistraiwes  (»f  Jloger, 
they  ahandoiied  their  village  and  returned  to  the  woods.  I^ess 
anxious  to  gain  pn>selytes  to  civili/ati<jn,  than  children  to  the 
Church,  the  missionary  followed  them  to  their  forests,  and  con- 
tinued to  instruct  all  h"  met  in  the  various  points  of  ("hristiai» 
•loctrine.  .\lter  eight  Jiiouihs'  .ippiication,  lie  judged  many  sulli- 
ciently  instructed  to  rec<i\e  l>a|>lism  ;  and  calling  a  coinicil  of  the 
chiefs,  proposed  that  the  tiihe  shouM  renoun<'e  the  devil,  ami  em- 
hrace  the  new  faith.  .\  scene  of  confusion  ensu<'d.  "The  devil 
is  tlio   host  thiiif;  in   the  woild,"  was  the  utiaiiimous  cry  tif  the 


62 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC    MltfrilONS. 


Ica'loi-s.  "  We  adore  liim  :  lie  makes  iiieii  valiant,"  they  ex- 
claimed ;  and,  swayed  by  a  tew,  the  muhitude  resolved  not  to 
renounce  Satan,  and  [tuhlicly  rejected  the  faith. 

F.nther  Kogcr  then  procee<led  to  other  tribes,  but  as  a  mission- 
ary eflected  nothing.  Keturning  to  Orista,  he  found  the  Indians 
gathered  at  a  great  festival  on  the  baidcs  of  the  Kio  Dulce.  lie- 
solved  to  m:ike  a  final  eti'ort,  he  i)roceed('d  to  the  place  of  their 
festivity,  and  ai>-aiii  raised  his  voice  among  thenj.  liecounting 
I'is  labors  lor  their  p-ood,  his  many  acts  of  kindness  and  charity, 
he  ba(K^  them  Judge  by  these  of  the  sincerity  of  his  atiection  for 
them.  In  return,  he  asked  but  one  favor — their  acceptance  of 
the  faith  which  he  preached,  and  which  they  all  acknowledged  to 
be  good  and  holy.  This  was  his  sole  object,  as  it  was  their  good. 
If  they  refused  it,  he  must  depart  Ibievei'.  Scarcely  had  he  ceased 
speaking,  when  a  chief  arose,  and  by  a  few  short,  furious  words, 
roused  all  minds  to  madness.  In  the  trouble  which  ensued  the 
missionary  nearly  lost  his  life,  and  with  ditKculty  saved  bis  church. 
Bidding  therefore  farewell  to  his  llock,  whom  he  promised  to  re- 
visit at  their  first  sign  of  acquiescence  in  his  w  ishes,  he  returned 
to  the  fort  of  St.  Helena  in  loTO,  and,  reporting  to  the  governor 
the  failure  of  his  undertaking,  proceeded  to  Havana  with  Father 
Sedefio  and  some  Indian  boys. 

At  this  moment  Melendez  arrived  with  the  letter  of  Pope  St. 
Pius  and  those  from  St.  Francis  Borgia  to  the  Jesuits  in  Florida, 
encouraging  them  to  persevere,  and  sending  to  aid  them  Father 
Louis  de  Quiros  of  Xeiez,  and  two  novices  or  scholastics,  Gabriel 
Gomez,  of  Granada,  and  Sancho  de  Zevallos,  of  Medina  de  Kio 
Seco.  These  were  intended  to  take  part  in  a  new  mission  already 
projected  in  Spain.  The  chief  of  Axacan,  who  had  accompanied 
the  Dominicans  to  Spain,  asked  leave  to  return  to  use  his  influ- 
ence in  converting  his  tribe.  As  all  now  felt  the  necessity  of  re- 
!noving  the  missions  from  the  vicinity  of  the  Spanish  po.st8,  his 
offer  was  accepted,  and   he   accom])anied   Melendez,   to   be   the 


SPANISH    MISSIONS. 


63 


tlil'V    ex- 
1  not  to 

inissiou- 
ludians 
ce.  lic- 
of  tlicir 
oouiitinuf 
[  cliaritv, 
'ctioii  for 
itaiico  of 
edg'od  to 
cir  good, 
le  ceased 
IS  words, 
isued  the 
>  church. 
:*d  to  re- 
etiuiied 
fovernor 
1  Father 

*ope  St. 
lorida, 
Father 

iGabriel 

|de  liio 
heady 

[panied 
influ- 
of  re- 
lets, his 

1)0     till' 


guide  of  the  missionaries  wlio  sliould  be  sent  to  the  banks  ot'  the 
Chesapeake,  or  St.  Nhiry's  J  Jay. 

Fatlier  Segura  Avas  delighted  at  tlie  prospect  thus  opened,  and 
resolved  to  unik'rtakt'  liinisfif  tin*  new  and  promising  mission  :  to 
aid  liim,  lie  selected,  besides  Fatlier  (^uiros  and  his  companions, 
IJrothers  Mondez,  l)e  Solis,  J{t'don<h),  and  Linares,  with  some  In- 
dian vouths,  who  had  been  educated  in  the  academy  at  Havana. 
All  were  soon  at  St.  Helena,  the  frontier  post  of  the  S[)anish  col- 
ony, whence  a  simple  vessel  bore  them  to  St.  Marv\s  J>av,  whose 
borders,  in  the  names  of  \'iru:inia  and  Maiylan<l,  seem  to  chronit^le 
the  devotion  ot"  its  tirst  explorers  to  the  \'irgin  Mary.  'Die  mi.s- 
sionaries  landed  with  Don  Luis,  as  the  chief  was  now  called,  and 
without  a  sigh  beiield  the  vessel  vStand  out  to  sea,  leaving  tliem, 
the  only  Europeans  for  a  thousand  miles  around. 

The  residence  of  the  tribe  to  which  Don  Luis  belonged,  e;innot 
be  determined.  It  is  stated  to  have  been  j»laced  about  thirty- 
seven  or  thirty-seven  and  a  half  <legrces  nortii,  and  to  have  been 
far  from  the  sea.     The  name  is  uniformly  •'•iven  as  Axacan. 

This  inland  region  was  now  the  bourne  of  their  journey ;  anil 
they  began  their  march  :  a  vast  tract  of  maish  and  wood  lay  be- 
fore them,  intersperse<l  with  laufjs  whi<'h  had  for  several  yeais  been 
struck  with  the  curse  of  sterility;  but,  hardened  to  toil,  they 
pressed  gallantly  on,  through  many  a  winding  and  circuitous 
route,  till  the  conduct  of  Don  Luis  excite-d  suspicion.  Months 
had  passed,  and  yet  their  destination  was  iKjt  reai;hed.  At  last  he 
announced  that  his  brother's  village  was  but  twelve  miles  otf,  and, 
bidding  them  encamp,  liastcned  (»n  in  fidvance,  to  prej)are  his 
•ountrymen  for  their  new  guests.  I)ays  now  elapsed,  as  mojiths 
had  done,  in  suspense,  and  yet  no  tidings  came  of  D«»n  Luis. 
Meanwhile  lumger  pressed  heavily  on  the  little  band,  wiiose  only 
resource  was  in  the  protection  of  lieaven.  In  this  extremity  they 
addressed  earnest  prayers  to  God  to  obtain  a  change  of  the 
apostate's  heart.     The  rustic  altar  witne.'-M'd  dailv  the   holv  sicii- 


($4 


AMKHICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


Hcc  oir.'nMl  ill  liis  iK'lialf.  At  last  tliev  sent  to  him,  but  as  lie  re- 
turiKMl  «'vasivt;  answers,  Fatlior  (^niros  set  out,  tletennined  to  try 
wlh'tlier  a  personal  conference  would  not  etiect  a  return  in  the 
niis«rui<le(l  man.  l)onJ^uis  met  him  with  hypocritical  excuses; 
and  fnrnisliinfj^  him  a  scanty  supply  of  provisions,  bade  him  return. 
The  dejected  missionary  and  his  companions,  Solis  and  Mendez, 
tuined  U)  leave  the  villaicc  *,  but  the  a}>ostate's  hatred  was  too  deep. 
Kaisino:  a  war  crv,  he  was  answered  by  the  tribe,  and  chief  and 
warri()r  ruslu'd  on  tlie  unsuspectini;  missionaries,  and  butchered 
them  without  mercy.  (.^uiroB  fell  lirst,  his  heart  pierced  by  an 
arrow  from  the  a[)Ostate's  bow. 

The  suspense  of  the  other  Jesuits  was  increased  by  the  non- 
appearance of  Father  Quiros  and  his  companions  ;  but  the  apostate 
came  at  last.  The  habit  of  Quiros,  which  enveloped  liis  swarthy 
frame,  told  a  tale  which  their  own  hearts  had  already  whispered, 
yet  feared  to  believe.  Luis  coldly  demanded  their  hatchets,  the 
only  articles  in  their  possession  with  which  they  could  defend 
themselves.  These  Segura  gave  up  in  silence,  and  knelt  with  his 
companions  in  prayer.  Jn  a  few  moments  the  signal  was  given  : 
a  butchery  ensued,  and  of  all  the  party,  only  one  escajied,  an  In- 
dian boy  educated  at  Havana.* 

Tli's  martyrdom  closed  all  hopes  of  a  mission  in  Upper  Flor- 
ida, and  1  d  the  Jesuit.s  to  abandon  the  whole  province  for  the 
more  inviting  tield  of  Mexico.  Three  priests  and  four  brothers 
had  fallen  victims  to  the  perfidy  of  the  natives ;  one  had  sunk 
under  his  toils  and  the  climate ;  and  yet  no  beneficial  result  had 
crowned  their  eftbrts. 

The  Spaniards  heard  of  the  glorious  deatli  of  Father  Segura 


*  Of  thcfjc  inissionarica  I  find  little.  Father  John  Baptist  Scgiirii  was 
born  in  Toledo,  and  entered  the  Society  of  Jesus  nt  Alcala,  on  the  9th  of 
April,  ].")()(>,  and  had  been  Ueetor  of  Vallisoleta,  before  sailing  to  Anierioa. 
lU-  was  killed  in  Fel)ri!ary,  l"»7<i;  the  only  Viee-})rovineial  of  Florida.  See 
AK^Minbe,  p.  G2 ;  Tanner,  p.  -1:47;  Suechini,  p.  71;  Ensayo  Cronologieo, 
p.  142;  Drews,  Fasti,  i.  IW. 


SPANISH    MISSION.-?. 


{>,) 


jiml  his  roinpnnioiis  tVoiii  Aloii/.o,  tlio  Indian  l»<>y  who  \\n>\  Ixtii 
spared,  and  who,  contriviiii^  at  last  to  ehido  tin-  vii^ilaiu-e  of  ihf 
apostat*',  tied  to  tlie  Sj»anisli  post.  Stianjj^*'  is  the  heart  ot'  man; 
hnis  liad  slain  the  inissionari«'s,  vet  hedeceiitlv  intenvil  them  all, 
uhilo  he  gave  the  consecrHted  vessels  and  «levotional  ohjeets  to 
his  clansmen,  to  become  the  ornaments  ot"  the  braves  and  scjuaws 
of  VirLjinia. 

Jn  1572,  M«'leiidoz  returned  to  Florida,  an<l  sailed  to  the  Ciies- 
apoake  in  pursuit  of  the  nuu-derer.  He  landed,  as  the  .lesuit 
(ion/alez  had  d(»ne  the  year  bet'ore,  and  thoU!ji;li  he  took  some  of 
th«*  murderers,  faik'd  to  seize  the  apostate,  who  roamed  amid  lUr. 
turests.  Kiufht  were  executed  for  their  crime,  all  of  whoUK  under 
the  instructions  of  Father  Koe-er,  embraced  C'hristianitv,  and  died 
blessinnr  the  Almin;hty.  This  was  the  last  missit)nary  act  of  Fa- 
ther Roijer  in  Moiida.  i"'aiu  would  he  have  gone  to  disintt-r  tin; 
lialluwed  remains  of  his  martyred  brethren,  but  to  this  Melendez 
would  not  consent;  and  leather  lioger,  leavinn"  the  land,  of  which 
his  labors  had  made  him  the  tlrst,  if  not  the  succi'sst'ul,  apostle, 
r  turned  with  the  other  mis.-ionaries  of  his  order  to  Havana,  and 
proi'eeding  thence  to  Mexico,  labore<l  there  for  many  years  with 
zeal  and  abundant  fruit.* 

A  new  band  of  missionaries  now  landed  in  Florida.  These  ap]>a- 
rontly  were  Franciscans,  and  if  so,  tlu-ir  mission  dates  pro]>erly  from 
1573,  although  others  of  their  order  must  have  been  there  occa- 
sionally from  the  foundation  of  St.  AuL>-ustine.     AVhat  tin-  prog- 

*  Fatlier  John  Ko<»cr  Avns  a  native  of  I'limpolunn,  and  a  Protesscd  of 
Throe  V'ows.  He  hiborod  in  Florida  from  15()t)  to  l.")71,  and  may  he  consid- 
(-•ivd  the  foiUHk-r  of  tliat  mission  ;  boiuLf  the  first  who  laimriMl  fur  any  time. 
His  virtues  and  learning,'  were  such  as  to  win  for  him  tiif  ^'ciicral  esteem  of 
all,  and  he  died  at  Vera  Cruz  in  101*',  universally  reirretted.  \illareal  died  at 
Mexieo,  Jan.  S,  lott'.t,  aftora  life  ofeminent  piety  and  uset'ulness.  Drews,  i.  ;js. 
I'lir  this  .Jesuit  mission,  sen  Aleiramhe.  Mortes  ilhistres,  |>.  1 1,  f.-j  ;  Tanner, 
Sncictas  Miiitans,  p.  ■it";  Historia,  S.  1.  pp.  IJl,  117;  Kiisuyo  ( "ronoiou'ici', 
pp.  l'Jo-14'j;  Ale<rre,  Historia  de  la  Compahia  tie  .lesus  in  Mejieo,  vnj.  i. ; 
llenrion.  Histoire  Clencrale  des  Mis.sions,  ii.  1.'),  10;  Kl  Incu,  Historia  do 
Morida,  2GS. 


60 


AMKUICAX    CATHOLIC    MI.^SIUNS. 


rcss  ot'  tlio  colony  and  its  missions  would  liavf  been  under  the 
command  of  tlu'  oncru'ctic  and  dcttTmiiicd  .Mclmdcz,  we  cannot 
easily  judi;c  ;  i>ut  Ik-  was  too  ureal  a  naval  commander  tor  t lie 
kiuLf  to  allow  liim  to  con>umc  liis  davs  in  cstaiilisliinu;  a  distant 
colony.  Fli'et  after  lleet  lia<i  l>e<'n  coniided  to  his  care,  and  he 
was  now  calleil  upon  to  lead  the  (rreat  Armada  ai^ainst  Knsj^land. 
lUit  liis  career  was  ended.  Amid  tiie  busy  jirepaiations,  amid 
the  din  of  arsenals  and  shipyards,  Meleiidez  expired  at  Corunn  •, 
still  viLforous  and  unlMoken  by  ai^e,  in  the  height  of  his  glory, 
a  brave,  l(»yal,  and  disinterested  naval  commander,  but  whose 
fame  is  blemished  by  one  act  of  blood.  His  death  was  a  fatal 
blow  to  Spanish  coKuiization  in  Florida.  The  northern  limit  of 
tlni  colonies,  pushed  to  Chesapeake  Uay  by  Melendez,  gradually 
retired  to  the  St.  Marv's,  leaving  St.  Au<aistine  almost  the  oidv 
foothold  in  this  part  of  tlie  continent,  till  in  later  days  J  Vnsacola 
rose  to  check  the  French  on  the  Mississij)j»i. 

Thouirh  Florida  laiiifuislu'd,  the  missions  went  on.  More  Fran- 
ciscans  were  invited  in  1592,  and  the  usual  number,  twelve,  were 
sent,  under  F.  John  de  Silva  as  Superior.*  They  arrived  the 
following  year,  and  proceeded  to  St.  Augustine,  to  put  themselves 
at  the  dis]>osal  of  Father  Francis  Marron,  warden  of  the  convent 
of  St.  Helena  in  that  citv.  Father  Marron  had  eaij-erlv  awaited 
their  coming  to  begin  the  Indian  nnssions,  which  lie  deemed  now 
feasible,  from  tlie  flattering  account  iriven  bv  Father  Diciro  I'er- 
domo,  who  in  tlie  previous  year  had  traversed  much  of  Florida. 
Fathers  IVter  de  Corpa,  Michael  de  Aunon,  Francis  de  Velascola, 
and  F>las  llodriguez,  at  once  hastened  to  the  troubled  province  of 
(Juale,  and,  after  wiiuiing  the  natives  to  i»eaee,  took  separate  sta- 
tions nearer  the  citv.     Meanwhile  the  Mexican  Father,  Francis 


■"■  The  twelve  were,  Fatliors  Mifliaol  de  Auuou,  Peter  Fcrnamlez  de  Cliu- 
;a's.  I'eter  de  Aufion,  IJlus  do  Moiites,  I'oter  Honiiejo,  Franeis  rarojii,  Peter 
Ic  San  (Jrejrorio,  Fraueis  do  Veliiscola,  Francis  do  A\ila,  I'eter   Uuiz.  iuil 
tin'  l:i\  -l)rotlier.  I'oter  Vinio:.'ra, 


J 


SPANISH    MISSIONS. 


()7 


ensacol;i 


I'aroja,  Aww  up,  iti  the  laiiu'iiai^c  ot'tlif  ^'amass^'Os,  his  aluiilLrini-iit 
of  Cliristian  doftriiK  ,  tlic  first  work  in  any  ot'oui'  Indian  Iani;uai;«'s 
that  issued  I'loni  tiio  j»ross.     Katiicr  Coipa,  at  'J't»l(.'niat«>.*  rndt-av- 


oicd  to  overcome  )»olvu"aniv  and  vicf,  wiiile  l*'atiM'r  I'das  dc  Moiifcs, 

I  *   •  -  ft 

after  jilantiuijftiio  eross  l>yliii'  little  creek  uearSt.  Aiii^ustine,  eallfrl 
C'ano  do  la  leche,  o-athei'fd  alms  in  the  citv  to  raise  l)eside  it  the 
chapel  of  C>ur  Lady,  leathers  Annon  and  ISadajo/,  rt-maintd  at 
(iuale,  which  soon  whitened  for  the  harvest,  while  \'elascoIa  at 
Asao,  Avila  at  C)spa,  and  otlier  Fathers  in  St.  l*et«'r's  Isle,  labored 
in  all  theri\alryof  zeal,  to  ufain  to  heaven  and  to  pronfre>s  the 
tickle  and  often  ill-treat<'d  children  of  the  forest. 

For  two  years  these  apostolii;  men   lalnjred   in   peace,   and   suc- 

c letl  in  forming"  rey;ular  villaufes  of  neophytes,  who  no  Ioniser 

howed  the  knee  to  l>aal  (for,  like  the  Salueans,  these  triho  wtn- 
shij)jM'd  the  sun  an<l  tire),  or  practised  the  ])olyi;amy  which  had 
St.  lonn;  induced  them  to  turn  a  deaf  eai'  to  the  teachinirs  of  the 
missionaries. 

Amiil  this  reii^n  of  peace  a  storm  snddeidy  arose,  which  turned 
the  smilino^  ijarden  once  more  into  a  howliuL;  wilderness  In  Sep- 
tember, 1597,  Father  Corpa  t'ound  it  necessary  to  rej»r(»ve  piiMiely 
the  cacique's  son,  whose  utihridled  licentiousness  had  l<»ni;  ijfiievcti 
the  missionary's  heart.  <  >ne  of  the  earliest  converts,  he  had,  atter  a 
short  period  of  fervor,  ])lunged  into  every  vicious  exc(^ss.  Vain  had 
been  all  tlie  entreaties  and  n'monstrances  which  I  )«•  (.'orpa  addressed 
him  in  private.  A  public  rebuke  was  the  only  uieans  of  arrest  iui^  a 
scandal  which  had  already  excited  the  taunts  of  unbelievers.  Fn- 
raged  at  the  disj^race,  the  younn:  chief  left  the  town  ;  and,  repairing 
to  a  neie'hborinuf  village,  soon  gathered  a  body  of  braves  as  eager  as 
himself  for  a  woi'k  of  blood.  In  the  night  lie  I'eturned  with  his 
followei-s  to  Tolemato;  they  cre[»t  silently  up  to  the  chapel;  its 
teeble  doors  presented  too  slight   an   obstacle   to  arn-st   their  pro- 


! 


♦  '1 


rUc  ground  now  occupied  by  the  cemetery  at  St.  Auu'ii'^tiiie. 


% 


C):i 


A.MKHICAN    CATIlnLIC    MISSIONS. 


j;n»ss.  TIh'  nns>.i(»n:iry  w.is  ]<iit'cliiiir  iM-t'orc  ilic  Mlt;ir  in  i>r;iyor, 
and  tlicic  they  >lf\v  iiiiii  :  a  >iii^li'  l»lo\v  of'  a  toinaliawk  sti«'tcli»'<l 
liitii  lili'lt'ss  on  tlif  i;roiMnl.  Tin-  spot  thus  hallowiMl  \>\  tlio  inar- 
tvidoin  ot'tlu'  iiii;s.si<)iiarv  tlifii  lav  witlioiit  tlic  walls  ot'St.  Aiiu:iis- 
tiiu',  but  is  now  llio  (HMnctorv  (»t'  tli.tt  citv.  \\  lifii  dav  lnoki-,  tlu- 
Indian  villay;c'  was  lillcd  with  ^aiot"  and  tciior;  Imt  tin*  yoinii,' 
cliict"  well  knew  the  in<n  with  wh«»ni  ho  had  to  deal.  Ajt|>t'alinu: 
to  their  Jiational  teelini,^,  lie  hade  tlu-ni  take  heart  :  Ik*  had  slain 
the  trial'  for  int»'rt«rinij  with  their  tinicdionoicd  eiistonis;  the  <lay 
had  eonic  whfii  tht-y  must  strike  a  Mow,  or  suhniit  to  ho  forever 
slaves.  This  faith  of  the  S|)aniards,  that  dej)riv«'d  nn-n  of  enjoy- 
ment, that  took  tVoiM  them  the  dearest  of  their  wives,  aixl  hade 
them  LTive  nj)  war,  could  no  longer  he  horiie.  He  had  heijun  the 
o-reat  work,  and  they  had  no  alternative  hut  to  join  him.  'I'eriil»le 
vengeance  wouM  the  >|iaiiiard  wreak;  and  th<'ir  onlv  eomse  was 
to  proceed  to  a  i;'eneral  massacre, — liist  of  the  friais,  then  t»f  all 
the  other  Spaniards. 

Knouii'h  joined  him  i<.  overawe  those  who  remaine*!  t'aithfiil, 
The  missionary's  hea«l  wa^  cut  otf  and  set  on  a  spear  over  the  !;-ate, 
whil»!  his  boily  was  lhn<Lr  "Ut  to  the  fowls  of  the  air. 

The  camp  ot  Topoijui  was  the  next  jtoint  to  which  they  hurried, 
apparently  hefore  the  authorities  of  St.  Auu-ustine  were  at  all 
aware  of  the  plot  which  was  alrea<ly  threatening  the  Sjtanish 
power  in  Florida.  Ihnstini^  unheraMed  into  the  cliapel  of  Our 
Lady,  the  insurijents  informed  Father  I{odrii;'uez  of  the  fate  of 
Corpa,  and  hade  him  prepare  to  die.  Struck  with  amazement  at 
their  blindness  and  infatuation,  the  missionarv  usetl  every  argu- 
ment to  divf'rt  them  t'rom  a  scheme  which  would  end  in  their  ruin: 
he  otiere<l  to  obtain  their  ])ardon  for  the  past,  if  thev  would  aban- 
don their  wild  jm.jert  —  but  in  vain.  Finding-  all  liis  elo(pience 
useless,  he  asked  leave  to  say  mass  before  dyiniif.  Strantje  as  it 
may  seem,  this  wa>  L,nanted.  Hi'  vested  for  the  altar,  and  beL>aii 
(he   mass.     His    c\ecutioner>   lay  grouped    on    (lie  chapel   tlour 


fil'ANl.-.l    MlSSluNji. 


r.ij 


aw.iitiiii;  an\i«»ii>Iv,  l>ut  uuictlv,  tlic  vwA  ut'flir  sacritirc.  wlii.li  wa-' 
to  |>i«'Iiult' his  own.  'Ilic  aiiuii>t  iiivsti'iifs  jntM'f«'»l»'.|  uiihoiit  iii- 
t«'riujiti<:i,  aii<l  wlicii  all  was  «'I1(|(m1,  the  ini>si( diary  raiiu'  down 
aii<l  kiK'lt  at  tin-  tinit  of  tlu*  altai.  Tin;  lU'Xt  iiKiiiU'iit  it  was  I'.- 
>jiattt'r»M|  with  liis  hraiiis.  ThrowiiiLC  liis  ho<ly  into  an  ailjoiniiiL:" 
lifitl,  tlif  uimtitnis  jii<'>st'il  nil,  anxious  to  niaivf  U|>  hy  thrir  >j>titl 
t'«»r  tin.' (h'lav  vMunLj  t'luui  them  hv  thr  tlarl«'ss  ('lonui'iu't'  ut"  M(>ntr>. 

Tlirir  ]»r»'>tnt  th'stinati<»n  was  tin*  I>Ian<l  ot"  ^iualf,  to  whu>c 
<-ac'i<jiu*  tiit'y  had  ahvatiy  sent  orders  to  «iis|iatcli  th*-  missionarirs 
at  As«^tj>»».  Tilt-  <liift',  liowt'Vrr,  was  t'liciKlly  to  the  I'athcis,  and 
Sent  a  nn'ssoiii;i'r  to  waiii  thcni  of  tlifir  dani;<'r.  liilortiinatrly, 
thf  faithless  envoy  never  l'ulHII<'(l  thi^  errand,  l>nt  deceived  the 
rhift'by  a  preteinh'd  answor  from  Aiu"ion.  Wiien  the  insuriX'-nts 
reaclu'd  llie  island,  tiic  ciiief  liasteiiod  to  Aunon  liiniselt",  to  in- 
si-t  on  his  flight :  here  lie  (liscoveied  tiio  treachery  •>f  his  seivaiit, 
and  that  all  escape  was  now  cut  off.  Father  Aunon  cohsoKmI  him, 
assurinijj  all  of  his  happiness  at  shcddiji_£(  his  Mood  for  the  faith. 
He  then  sai<l  mass,  and  communicated  his  companion,  Antonio 
de  Hadajoz.  A  few  momouts  d(jvotod  to  siK'Ut  pray«,'r  followed, 
then  the  tramp  and  th«^  veil  of  an  ann'iv  crowd  amiouncid  the 
coming  of  the  insurgents.  Calmly  lia<l  the  I'ranciscans  lived, 
calmly  they  <lied.  Kneeling,  Uadajoz  received  one,  Aiuion  tw<» 
hK»wsuf  a  club,  and  both  .sank  in  di'ath.  Tlu'  <-hapel  now  s«'emed 
to  be  tilled  with  awe,  for  the  miu'dcreis  retired  as  if  in  flight,  leav- 
ing the  iMxlies  to  bo  interred  by  tin;  friendly  caci<jue. 

Asao  was  tlie  next  mission,  but  here  the  insurgents  wer<'  at  first 
baffled,  Velascola,  the  greatest  of  the  uiissiouaries,  was  absent 
when  they  arrived.  Well  mi<dit  they  fear  his  power,  and  feel  tlu'ir 
Work  half  done,  unless  they  could  end  his  lite  of  zeal.  A  perfect 
religious,  learned,  j)oor,  and  humble,  ho  combined  the  greatest 
mildness  with  the  greatest  tirimioss,  and  j)ossessed  over  the  Indians 
an  inrtuenci'  which  no  other  of  his  coimtrymeii  ever  attained.  Pro- 
voked at  his  absi'uce,  tliev  resolved  to  await  his  return  in  ambush. 


J 


70 


AMKUICAN   C'ATiKU.K'   MISSION; 


nw\  an  ho  lainlffl,  a  t'"\\  \\(iit  out  to  \v»lc(»m<'  liim  \\i'li  trt'acli»'inii> 
words,  wliilf  oiln'is  till  <>ii  liiiit  v.-'l;  ;  lul>s  Mill!  ax«'s,  atid  did  luit 
li'avc  him  till  his  ImmIv  was  niu»  <jui  r'v.ir;,  r^lwtiM'K'ss  mass. 

KatlhT  Avila's  <'ha|H'l,  .-it  < 'spa,  ..;.s  next  Mltnrkt'd.  Ilcaniiv; 
th*'  a|)|)|-<)afh  oftlic  iiiiirdci'otiH  haixl,  he  t<>uU  th(>  alaiiii  and  tlid. 
hilt  Mas  ov«'it;d<i'ii  niid  lnoii'^ht  hack.  Ih'  escaped  ai,Miii.  and 
ivarhcd  ;i  <'ain'.hrak<',  wht'if,  in  th<'  darkiu'ss,  for  ninht  had  n»iii.' 
on,  ho  hoped  to  cludf  oltM'iv.'ition  ;  hut  tin-  mo(»n  lu'trayrd  liim. 
Woniulcd  hy  !i  shower  ol"  arrows.  In-  tMI  into  their  hands,  ainl  was 
condemned  to  die.  His  linhit,  however,  excited  the  cnpidity  ot' 
(»ne  ot"  the  Indian^,  who  interfered  in  his  heliah'.  Then  ehaiiLrinu' 
iheir  jtlans.  they  stri|>pi'd  the  missionaiy,  and  hindiiiLf  liim  to  a 
stake,  carried  iiim  to  a  nei<jfhl«>rinL»'  healiien  villaLT*',  wh«'n.'  tliey 
sold  him  as  a  slave. 

After  destroyini^  liis  ehnjiel,  the  j>arty  pioceeded  on  its  eii'an<l  of 
dcatii,  and  so  many  had  now  joined  them  tliat  they  hore  (h)wn  on 
St.  Peter's  Ish'  with  a  tlotiiia  of  forty  war-canoes.  As  they  drew 
n«'ar,  an<l  »h»iihleil  a  headland,  tliev  descrii-d  a  Sitanish  vessel  IvinLT 
at  anchor  near  the  mission.  It  was  hut  a  provisi(»n  hoat  with  sn|>- 
jtlics  for  the  l'\-ithei's,  and  had  hut  one  soldiei'  on  hoard.  Its  meiv 
apj>earance,  lu>wever,  disconcerted  mII  their  plans;  new  <-ounseK 
wci'e  to  he  a<lopted  ;  tli«»  chiefs  hen-aii  to  discuss  a  plan  of  action. 
Imt  while  nil  were  in  liot  disjmtt!,  they  were  suddenly  attacked  and 
routed  hy  the  chieftain  of  St.  I  VterV,  who  hy  this  victory  broke  their 
])owcr  tor«'ver.  'riiomissionaiics  welcomed  their  deliverer  witli  heart- 
felt irratitude,  and  soon  learned  how  wide  had  hecn  the  destruction. 

Father  Avila  was  meanwhile  a  prisoner.  Tho  slave  of  sava*r''^. 
for  a  year  he  Aug  their  fields  and  pi'iforme<l  every  menial  ollice. 
till,  weary  of  liim,  his  inhuman  masters  at  last  resf)lved  to  put  him 
to  death.  1'ied  to  the  stake,  with  the  fairots  around  him,  he 
spurned  the  otler  of  life,  made  on  condition  that  he  should  renounce 
his  (lod  and  marry  into  the  tribe.     He  now  looked  forward  to  tin 

own  of  mailyrdom  which  his  companions  already  enjoyed,  when 


CJ 


SPANISH     MISSH>N>. 


71 


Mcllrl<ill> 

1  (li<.l  nut 

llfariii!;; 
mul  tlftl. 
L^aiii,  nii'l 
ad  cKiii'' 
iv*'<l  liiiii. 
,  iiixl  Nv:i» 
upidity  <»t 
cliaiii^nnu' 
liiiM  to  a 
Ih'IV  tlit'v 

oiTaud  of 
'  down  on 
lev  dit'W 
ss«'l  lyiiiLT 
with  sup- 
Its  int'if 
counsels 
•f  action, 
kcd  atnl 
oko  tlu'ii' 
tlilu'art- 
truction. 
savaijcs. 
\\  oflio'. 
])Ut  liiiii 
liini,  li'' 
Icnouni'i' 
I  to  ill.' 
1,  when 


an  old  Woman  dctnandid  him  to  rtli'ct  tii**  lilxTalioii  ot'  Imt  son,  ,'i 
jH'isuntT  at  St.  Ani^u>tini'.  ilci' demand  was  i;ianted,  and  I'ailur 
Avila.  so  ehaiiLed  l»v  his  savat;'*  lite  and  hrutal  treatment  a-  to  he 
past  all  r('L'o;^nitit»n,  was  on<'«'  moro  restored  to  his  eDuntrymen.* 

The  missions  Were  now  almost  ahandoned  till  l«>iM.  when  the 
i;'ovi'rnor  ot"  {•"lorida  madi'  a  in-w  etl'oit  to  xciuf  lahorers  tor  that 
harren  tit-id.  lie  w;is  m.t  unsueees>t'ul.  l-"l<»iii|a  was  the  next  \ear 
vi>ited  hv  the  1  li>lioj>  of  ('uh;i,  who,  witne»inu;  the  extreme  spiiitual 
want  i)\'  the  j)eo|ile,  aidrd  the  LjoVerilor's  etl'ol  ts.  I'odifS  ot*  I'Vail- 
eiscans  weie  eontinuallv  sent,  and  the  wardeiishij*  ot"  l-'lorida  wa> 
so  nmeh  aULjmfiitfd  that  it  was  soon  mailf  a  l-'rancisean  |>rovinco, 
under  the  name  ot'  St.  Helena,  iVom  il>  |»rineij)al  eonvent.f 

<  Ml  restorini;  the  mission  at  (iualf  or  .\melia  Island  in  1<'»().'>.  it 
was  the  ])ious  eaie  ot"  the  mis>ionaries  to  take  up  the  hodies  ot" 
Aufiou  and  Hadajo/  t'rom  their  uidionoii'd  i;raves  and  place  them 
in  a  position  wc»rthy  ot"  th*'ir  \irtUfs  and  "glorious  death. 

'I'ho  pro;:(rc'ss  of  the  mission  in  succeedinf;  years  must  h.'ive  hoen 
very  ffreat,  althoUjL^h  we  have  no  details  of  (he  results.  Twenty- 
threo  missionaries  were  sent  from  Cadiz  in  1012,  under  the  Peru- 
vian Father  Louis  Jerome  de.  Ore,  himsj-lf  the  author  of  a  delation 
of  the  Martyrs  of  Kloritla,  and  several  works  t'or  the  missions. 
In  lOllJ,  eii;ht,  ami  two  years  after,  twelve  more  Kraneiseansof  the 
province  of  the  Anijels  in  M«>.\ico,  were  also  sent  to  l-'Iorida,  wln-re 
thev  soon  learned  the  lanfjuaufe  and  lahoreil  with  such  success  that 
they  ere  lonrj  re<juired  assistance.  In  less  than  two  years  they 
were  established  at  the  principal  points,  and  numhered  no  less  than 
twenty  convents  or  residences  in  Florida.  These  were  not  confine.l 
to  the  coast.  A  missionary  whose  name  is  not  i^iven,  followed  hv 
Father  Alonzo  Serratio,  ])enetrat<»d  the  interior  and  exj)lored  the 
various  localities,  which  loni;  bore  the  n;.mcs  he  ijave  them.| 

*  For  tliis  Fnuifiscnn  Mission,  koc  Barcin,  Knsnyo  ('roiuilotrico,  1(57-71; 
Tor.|iicnia'lu,  Munaniuiii  in. liana,  iii.  .T,u;  Le  Croniqno  de.s  Fr«'-res  Mincnrs, 
llioii>;li  it  comes  down  to  lOoy,  does  not  ineinde  it. 

+  EnBayo  Cronolo^rico.  nnn.  1602-G.  \  Knsayo Cronologico,  Hi 2  \r^. 


CIIAPTER    III. 

FLOUIDA    MISSION (CONTIXIED.) 

New  missions— The  ApalHclios — Tnmbk'S  in  tlie  scttlod    missions— F,lll:li^ll  dostroy  llii> 
mi>sj()n.s — Attfinpt  to  rotorc  tliiin— State  ol'tlio  country  ut  tiie  ct'ssion  to  Kngland  — 


Kuin  of  llif  nii>siini>— Till: 


I'lllilloIl'S. 


I       'I 


'■  I 


Till-;  mission  ums  now  steadily  extended  an<i  stations  estahlislieii 
ainoiiii'  llie  Apalaelics.  Tliat  tribe  had  attaeked  the  Sj)aniar(ls  in 
JU.'JH,  hnt  wi'it,'  defeated,  and  llie  missionaries  soon  made  them 
friendly.  Many  were  eiiij.loyed  on  the  ]>iil»lic  works,  and,  le- 
eeiviiii^  ])roteetion  ami  consolation  tVoni  the  Franciscans,  obtained 
them  a  tiivorable  reception  in  th«'  villaijfs  oftheir  tribe. 

Missions  were  ijradnally  formed  amcni^  the  Ajtalaches  and 
Creeks,  in  many  ])arls  of  West  Florida  ami  (u-orixia.  In  HUM, 
they  beo-an  a  mission  at  Achala<jue,  and  soon  baj)tized  the  <'hief. 
thus  r^'newini;  the  faith  amoiiu;  the  Cherokees.  When  Hristock. 
an  lOnjjjlish  traveller,  visited  it  U-n  years  later,  a  tlourishitiiLf  r»- 
(hiction  existecl,  and  he  was  h<»sj)itably  receiv«'d  by  the  mission- 
aries at  tiieir  station,  a  beautiful  spot  on  the  mountain-sid<'.* 
Several  (»f  the  p)vernors  wer«'  latently  devoted  to  the  cause,  espe- 
cially, however,  I'aul  d.c  llita,  who  tbunde<l  a  mission  on  tli"- 
western  shore  of  the  peninsida,  aided  by  the  zealous  Sebastian  I'erez 
do  la  (vorda,  the  pastor  of  St.  Aui,nisfine,  who,  with  sonu^  secular 
priests  from  Cuba,  undertook  it  in  1(570,  in  the  foIlowin<r  year  a 
royal  decree  permitted  any  ]>riest  to  devote  himself  to  these  ]nis- 
si(jns,  but  owinj^  to  some  secret  opposition,  the  learned  ;,nd  ]»ioii- 
canon  .lohu  d(^  Cisnei-os,  who,  with  seveti  piiists,  volunteered  to 
servo  in  the  missions,  was  never  able  to  realize  his  great  desin-n. 


*  Davis,  ("aril)boc  Isliiiuls,  Loiul.,  I'it'n;,  j*.  '21.'.  This  aiitlior,  and  Sanson, 
in  liis  Atlas,  liavo  a  curious  accronnt  of  an  Kiitrlisli  colony  ainonix  the  .\\a\- 
hichi's,  t'lrnioil  l)y  rrfnt'oos  t'roni  N'irLrinia  in  I'liil,  wlio  inatle  L'roat  profross 
in  convcrtiiijf  the  huiians,  cstablislicd  cliurchi's,  culU'ges,  iukI  uvea  haJ  « 
bishop. 


srANISIl    MISSION.S. 


73 


estroy  Ilh> 
KiiL'land  — 


;il»lisln'il 
liards  iti 
U'  tliclll 
jm<l,  H'- 
i)l>taiu«'<l 

lu^s  Mini 
ill  HUa, 
ht'  cliiot". 
Hiistock. 
liitii;  n- 
missioii- 
in-si(l«'.* 

SC,    0S])0- 
Oll      ill'' 

1)11  1 '»'!•('/ 

;U'('ulai' 

year  a 

>'S('  luis- 

ii\  |)i(>ii- 

Icn'tl   ti> 

^i^•Il. 

I  Sanson. 

(lie  Aiu- 
jiro^jriv— 
111   Iitul  il 


riituriuiiatfly,  at  \]v^  liiiu'  ^uuw  tlisjuitcs  aiosc  N\iii«h  u-tardrd 
tlif  iiii->it>ii>.  aini  tin-  lii<liaiis  tNcii  iiia<l»'  coiiniiaiiits  aL;aiii>t  tluir 
(lircctois,  ainl    iIu'.m'   <'(>mjtlaiiits   were   iisrd  lor  jMilitical   )imi>(»s«'s 


l-uip 


'rrainjiiiilily  ua^  at  la>l  r«'stoivii,  aii»l  a  |i»'rmaiit'iit  licnrtit  rt'sultrd 
ill  a  set  ot"  rt'Ljular  iiistnictioiis  for  tin'  Ljitvcnmifiit  ot"  tin'  r«Mluctioii>, 
which  ol>viat«'<|  all  t'urlhcr  (lilliciilty. 

The  ciicroaciiiiin'  colonics  <»t'  I'lnn-lainl  presently  troiiMcd  this  ticM. 
Ill  lt>84,  the  Yajiias>ccs,  rcjrctiii!  their  niissioiiaiies,  joined  tlu» 
l!iii;li>h  ;  in  the  lollowiiiLi*  year  mi-y  atta<'ked  the  nii>sion  ot'  St. 
Catharine's,  and,  takinij  it  hy  >iiriirise.  jthindeied  th«'  chnich  and 
convent,  and  burnt  tlitj  town.  Soon  alter,  the  old  charecs  aLrainst 
the  KraiK'iscans  wer#  r<'ne\ved,  and  e'r«'at  discussions  ensued,  l>ut 
still  the  work  went  on.  In  Itiiio,  the  provincial  sent  l'"at her  Sal- 
vador Uueno  to  San  Salvador  de  Maiaca,  to  Inund  a  new  iiiissi 


oil. 


ii 


e  was  Well  rec«'ive( 


1,  and 


11 


oon  hail  a  llounsliiiie->latioii  aidiiixl  liini. 


'Ihe  foundation  ot"  I 'ensacola.  in  !(!!»;{,  ua\<' a  ii<w  ini|»iilse  t«t  the 
missions  in  West  I'loiida.  hour  years  later,  li\e  I'laiici'.can  mis- 
>ionaiies  attempted  to  found  a  mis>iiiii  on  the  ( 'arlos  |\ey>,  luit  tin* 
Indians  helievinu;  the  pi<»ce»ions  anil  relie;ioii-^  lites  of  the  mis- 
sioji;u"ies  to  he  some  mae-ical  ccitiininv  for  their  deslrnetion.  dro.  ^ 
them  out,  and  they  proceeded  to  the  Mataciimlie  Key,  in  Morida 
channel, wln're  tiie  inhabitants  weie  all  Catholics.* 

l>v  this  time  the  Spanish  chIohn,  thoiiuh  i(>elf  Miiail,  was  sui'- 
rounded  by  Indiai;  tribes,  most  of  whom  were,  to  M>iiie  exieiit,  con- 
verted :  towns  of  convt'ils  existed  all  aloiin-  the  .\jialacliicola,  i'lint, 
and  olhei' rivers  ;  tlnse  were  all  directed  by  i'VancIscan  missionaiies, 
who  had  a»-»|uiied  a  complete  ma^tery  oser  those  li,. ice  tribes.  Hut 
war  was  now  imjx'iitliii'j:;  the  i'iiiiilish  rapidly  encroached  <jn  tho 
colony,  and  fietjuently  attacked  the  mission  stations  to  c.ariy  otf  tjio 
"  Indian  converts  of  the  Spani>li  )>rie>ts,"  to  sell  them  as  sla\es  in 
Charleston   and   other   jioits.     Six   hundred  were    killed   or  tak'ii 


*  Ensiiyo  CrniiulKuicit. 
I 


74 


AMKUICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSION'S. 


f»n  tlio  rivor  Kliiit  in  1703;  l.ut  tlio  ixivati'st  Idow  \v;i-«  trivcii  iit 
1704,  when  an  Kni^Hisli  torco,  with  :i  lari;*'  htxly  of  Ahihainas,  took 
St.  Marks,  the  fcntrc  of  the  Ajtalachc  luissioii,  antl  co-nplctt'ly 
<l('Strovt'<l  it.  I>oii  .Iiian  Mt-iia,  the  ronimanth-r  of  tlif  ]K)st,  fell 
into  tlio  liands  of  tli«'  enemy.  Tiiroc  Kranciscans,  wlio  tliiceted  ih.' 
n<«>i»hvt<'s,  went  otit  to  obtain  terms  for  tlu'ir  ehilthcn,  l>ut  tlit-y  too 
were  taken  and  ])nt  to  death  witii  all  the  terrors  of  Imlian  l»ar- 
haritv.  \>\  theso  Mows  the  Apalaehes  were  so  rcdiK'cd,  that  in  a 
few  v«'ai"s  only  fonr  hnndred  ettuld  l»(^  found  of  a  tiil»e  that  oiue 
had  ninnherod  seven  th<»nsand.*  All  tlie  stations  hetwt'eii  the  Al- 
tamaha  antl  Savaimah  were  hroken  ii]),  and  siieh  as  oscnped  slavery 

or  death  tleil  into  the  ])eninsida.     Kinlit  hiimlied  had   I w  kille.l 

on  tlie  spot,  or  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  linlian  allies  of  the  Knu;- 
lish ;  fourteen  hundred  were  carried  oil"  I >y  Governor  Moore  and 
settled  at  Savannah. 

The  war  was  soon  after  renewed.  'J'he  Atiniueas,  a  triht-  whosr 
centr<'  wjis  at  Ayavalla  on  the  Apahndiieola,  were  attacked  l>y  tli. 
Eni^lish  in  1V0(5.  A  l»are-foot«il  Kraneisean  eanie  out  of  the  town 
to  ohtain  favorable  terms,  as  Knijlish  accounts  assure  us,  hut  of  hi- 
fate  we  know  nofhintj.  'I'he  Atimucas  were  driven  from  their  town<. 
and  a  portion  of  them  retired  to  thf  east  side  of  St.  John's  Jiiver, 
where  they  founded  a  new  town,  known  as  the  Puehio  do  Atimuc(^<. 

liv  thes(*  wars  manv  of  the  missions  were  entirely  broken  up. 
and  all  suffered  greatly.  The  Christians  were  ajfain  minified  with 
the  paijans,  and  many,  for  want  of  tlujir  relitjious  j^uidcs,  fell  awa\. 
Some  tribes,  too,  won  by  the  ICnglish,  reject*?*!  the  Jnissionari<s. 
In  a  few  yeai's,  liowever,  the  latter  be.  am«'  aware  of  their  error. 
The  Yamassees,  wlio  lia<l  b(?en  the  llrst  to  join  the  Entjflish,  and 
had,  Jis  we  have  seen,  destroy«'d  a  Franciscan  mission,  now  orij:an- 


*  Clinrk'voix,  Hist,  do  lu  Nouvillo  Franco,  vi.  2'>Q,  IJobcrts'  Floritlii, 
p.  14.  The  Kn>;li.sh  aootiunts  iire  all  silcjit  as  to  the  dontli  of  tliemissioiiarits; 
but  ii;i  tlu'y  art!  i-xlri'ini-ly  vairiic,  an. I  llio  lacL  by  no  nieun.s  orudilublc,  wo 
cannot  wond«>r  at  the  Hiipprossion. 


Sl'A.NIMI    MISSIONS. 


75 


i'U    III 

■I  t»«»k 

)st,  IV-II 
i.'d  til" 

H'V  too 

i:it  in  :i 

Ht   oll<«' 

tlu"  Al- 

n  kill.'.l 
lie  Ktii!;- 
)or«'  :iii«l 

u'  wliosc 
I  l.y  111.' 

lie  toNVIi 
lit  oflli- 

r  towns 
Kivrr, 
iimi('o<. 
•kfti  iij'. 
fd  witli 
ill  aw.-iy. 
on;iri»'s. 
lir  oiTor. 
|ish,  iiii'l 
ortjiui- 


Flori.la. 
able,  wo 


izffl  a  jj^t'iit'ial  <-imt«'ilt'rarv  ai^ainsf  tluir  t'onnt'r  tVifiids,  aii<l  in 
171.>  biiist  on  their  scttU'UU'iits.  I  k-t'catcd  at  List,  tlu-v  took  ict'iiifo 
in  lloiida,  wlicn;  thoy  attrrwanls  romai  »(*<!.  In  tliis  wartlif  ("hris- 
tiaii  Jiulians  took  an  acti\t'  j»art,  lo«l  l»y  O^iuntojo.  a  Occk  cliift', 
Atlriaii,  an  Aitalacliicola,  .lolm  Mark,  (»t'  tlio  saino  tril>r,  ami  Tix- 
jana,  war-rliitf  ot"  tlic  Talisi,  a  hand  ot"  the  TallajKiosas,  who  had 
visitt'd  NK'xit'o,  had  U'on  haptizfd  thrif  hy  the  naiuf  of  l»alta.ssir, 
and  appointed  Maeso  del  Canipo  of  his  tiihe. 

As  the  noixoliations  with  the  Kni;lish  at  the  close  of  the  war 
wefe  <|uitO!  favotahle  to  tlw  Inilians,  the  fervent  .lohn  Maik  and 
(iihef  riiristian  chiefs  thouuht  of  I'estoiiiii;- the  former  reductions. 
Ath'i' seveial  vain  attcinj>ts  to  induce  the  Spanish  j^overninejit  to 
hiiild  a  fort  to  protect  them,  he  .-it  la>t,  in  17  IS,  t'oinided,  with  one^ 
hundred  sonls,  fiie  missimis  of  ( )iii-  I.ady  of  Loneliness  ainl  St. 
I.uuis,  where  mis>i(>naries  soon  henfaii  their  lahors.*  .Nfo  ,t  of  the 
missionary  statioii>  In  this  (juarter.  ln»w<'Vei',  weie  al>an<loned  when 
I- at  her  Charlevoix  visited  it  in  ITJi'.f 

I'Vom  this  period  few  details  of  the  missions  liave  reai-hed  us 
•  town  to  the  tin-e  wlieii  Spain  ceded  j-'lorida  t(»  I'ln^-land  hy  the 
treaty  <»f  Paris  (iTG-'i).  This  was  the  di-ath-hlow  of  the  missions. 
The  Franciscans  left  tho  colony  witii  most  of  the  Spanish  settlers*, 
the  Indians,  who  occupied  tw()  towns  utk'..  r  Tic  walls  of  St.  Au- 
ijustine,  w«'ro  expelled  from  tho  tjronnds  cuiiivj.icd  hy  th;-'r  toil 
for  years,  and  deprivcii  of  tlieir  chnrcli,  which  liiey  h,  !  ihei!>i«*lves 
erected.  All  was  jj^iveii  by  the  i^oveitn  r  Jo  the  nt^vly  estai)lished 
Kni;lisli  church.  In  ten  years  not  one  w;*'^  left  near  i!u  citv.  The 
In  lians  thus  driven  out  l»ecame  wanderers.  ;.v,c{  received  the  n  ime  of 
Seminoles,  whicli  lias  ?hat  meaninLj.  liy  ieijreesall  traces  of  tlieir 
lornier  civili/atioii  and  Christianity  disapj'eare<l,  and  they  have 
wnce  bei'U  known  only  l»y  their  hitter  hate  of  tlie  sucfessors  of  the 
Spaniards.^ 


*  KnsnNorronoloirico.  t  .Tonrnal,  vl.  2ri3. 

X  Hurlrar.rrt  Kant  Fleriilu,  ;)-l;  llomHn's  Florida,  li63. 


A^ 1^- 


76 


AMKHICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


Ktii;l;iiul,  ill  m  iiosscssion  ol"  twciitv  v<'ais,  coinith'tt'lv  (Icstrovctl 
wliat  lia<l  survivcfl  ot"  tin-  I'raiiciscan  missi ms  ;  iio  succcsstiil  at- 
tempt was  iiiadf  l>y  tlio  Spaiiiaitls  alter  \lHli  !<»  ro-estaMlsh  tliciii, 
and  now  scarce  n  trace  remains,  unless  we  consider  tlie  Seminoles 
themselves  as  a  strikiiiij  monument  ot"  the  illtlerent  results  ohtainetl 
by  the  Catholic  government  of  Sj)ain  and  the  J'rotestaiit  govern- 
ment of  I'Jiiiland.  '[\ut  one  converted  the  savai^es  into  Christians, 
— a  (|uiet,  orderly,  industrious  rac«',  liviiiir  side  l>y  side  with  the 
Spaniards  themselves,  in  ]>eac<»  and  comfort  ;  the  other  replunjjfed 
the  same  trihes  hack  into  harharism  and  ])aLjanism,  and  converted 
tliem  into  a  feartul  scourn'e  of  lu'r  own  colonies. 

<  Hu"  own  iLi'overnment  continues  tlu;  wronn'.  Tin;  Franciscan 
convent  at  St.  A\ii;iistini'  is  a  government  harrack;  and  no  eft'ort 
lias  been  ma»le  to  win  tli.-  hearts  of  the  fugitives;  on  the  contrary, 
covetous  even  of  tiitir  everglades,  (»ur  government  lias  sought  to 
remove  them  bv  lorce. 


ClIAl'TEH    IV. 


MISSIONS    ]V     NKW     MKXirO. 


Attempt  (if  I'.rdtliiT  Alphonsus  IJ«nlri^;iicz— Denlh  oi  the  nii>.-ioiinrii's — Ofmte's  oxitcdi- 
tion— rrjincisian  mission  ostalilislic  I  by  MnrtiiifZ— Its  early  strupirlos — Account,  of 
niis>ii>n  irivcn  liy  llcnavidcs  in  KVSii—Dccliiu'—iJost oration  in  l(!»)t) — Kevolt  In  ICSft— 
Villj».MM"ior"s  account  lii  ITU) — rrcsuiit  htatc. 

AVk  have  already  soon,  in  the  account  of  Coronado's  <'xpedition, 
the  attempt  made  by  leather  Padilla  and  his  com])anion  to  estah- 
lisli  Christianity  on  the  u]^])er  wat<'rs  of  the  llio  ( Maude,  and  tin' 
failure  of  their  i'tlbrts  to  coiivert  the  triltes  of  New  Mexico. 

The  unfavorable  account  iifiveii  bv  Coroiiado  prevented  aiiv  fin- 
then  secular  exploratioti  of  the  territory :  it  was  left  to  the  zeal  ef 


SPANISH    MISSIONS. 


77 


'stroytMl 
>sti8l  ilt- 
■li  tlit'tii, 
'ininoli's 
jl)taiiH'tl 

gOVt'l'Il- 

iiistians. 
with  tlic 

'pluilijt'il 

ouvertod 

raiicisfaii 

no  I'tiuit 

frmtraiy, 

;()il<i;lit    ti> 


t('"s  expt'di- 
Account  I  if 
It  in  1CSI>- 


ju'tVition, 
|to  ostal'- 
ainl  till' 
I). 

laiiy  t'ur- 
/cal  'it 


(.'liristian  iiiissioiiarifs  to  »'\]>l<)ri'  it  au'aiii.  M»'aii\vliiit'  tlx-  Iiniiaii 
missions  ^)t'  Mt-xico  wcrt?  stra<iilv  ailvaiiciii;'  to  the  iioitli,  .iinl  in 
1580  tlicii;  chwit  in  tlif  v  'llcv  <•!'  St.  l»artlinl»niK'\v  a  uioiis  lav- 
liiollief  naniod  Aiiu:iistiii»'  Kodiijjjur/,  who  had  i^iowii  old  amid 
austcritios  and  toil  in  th<'  I'ranciscan  missions.  Ilcariiii;,  tVoiii 
Iiniians  who  visit«*d  the  mission,  that  jxipulotis  countiics,  un- 
\i.>itt'<l  by  the  Spaniards,  lay  to  tiif  north,  lu'  hmiud  with  iho 
ilf>irt'  (tf  announrinnf  to  tiicin  thf  i::os|k'1  ot"  Christ. 

Ili>  z«'al  indiut.'d  him  to  apply  to  hi>'  j»rovi  n-ial  for  leave  to  n'o 
and  learn  their  laiiixnaee.  'I'lie  \  ieeroy  of  Mexico  a)>|»roved  the 
nii>sion,  and  the  e'uod  lirother  was  not  allow. -d  to  di'part  alone. 
A  it'i^'ular  mission  was  j»rojeeted.  Father  I'Vaneis  Lope/,  of  Se- 
ville,  was  named  Snj>erior ;  the  learned  and  seientitie  leather  John 
lie  Santa  Maria,  with  Urother  IJodiiu^nez,  wcie  .selected  to  accom- 
I'.my  the  exjKMlition,  and  they  all  set  ont  in  the  year  ir)Xl,  witii 
It'll  soldiers  and  ^ix  Mexican  Indians,  and  adxanced  to  the  coim- 
iiy  of  the  Tehnas,  apparently  the  Tiuniex  of  ('oionado.      At  this 

l>iiillt    they  Were    compelled   to    halt,  for    the    SoldielS,  seeing'  M'Ven 

litiiidred  weary  miles  liehind  them,  refused  to  j»roceed.  The  mis- 
sionaries, after  a  vain  ajtpeal  to  ilnir  honor,  jiiide,  patriotism,  and 
lelirrion,  allowed  them  to  depart,  and  hei^an  to  examine  the  tribe 
ainoiiLj  whom  they  wei'c.  Thi-.  New  Mexican  tril»<.'  lived  then,  as 
in  Tadiila's  time,  in  their  pt'cijlijir  li(»uses,  and  unlike  the  wild  In- 
'liaiis  of  the  plains  beyond,  die-isi-d  id  cotton  mantles.  The  mis- 
sioiia,  les  w'er«;  so  pleasotl  w  itb  :Iie  laaniieis  of  the  peojile  that 
ilie\  resolved  to  beu^in  a  mission  amono;  them,  and  the  success  of 
lli'ir  Hrst  etibits  so  «'xalt<'d  their  hope>  that  tliev  sent  Father. lohn 
de  Santa  .Nfaiia  back  to  Mexico  to  brini^  auxiliaries.  ]''earlcss, 
.■nid  reliant  on  iiis  skill,  the  missionary  set  out  alone,  with  his 
compass,  to  strike  direct  for  tlie  nearest  settlement  ;  but  while 
<i>le(  p  by  the  wayside,  oil  the  third  day  after  his  departure,  he  w.'is 
MujirisiMl  atid  killed  by  a  party  of  wandering;  ln<lians.  The  oiheis 
ineanwf.ile  proceeded  witii  their  missionary  labors,  inslructin;^  the 


78 


AMKlile'AN    CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


I  « 


I 


IM'ople,  till  at  last,  in  an  attack  on  the  loun,  latluT  Lope/.  Idl  be- 
iK'atli  the  shafts  of  the  assailants,  ami  I'nidiit  r  li(«lrii^U('/,,  the  }»r(>- 
jcctor  of  the  mission,  was  left  to  coinluct  it  al'.ne. 

Tiio  |>L'o|)lo  were  nt»t  indiirciont  to  his  tcarhiiii;,  hnt  vice  had 
(rliainis  too  jiowerful  tor  thcni  (o  snlnnit  to  the  <loctrint!  of  the 
Cross.  J{o<lrii;uez  invii^hcd  with  all  the  Hie  of  an  aitostlc  ai;ain>t 
the  awfnl  sins  to  which  th«v  were  athlicted,  till  wearv  at  last  ot 
his  lepfoachcs,  they  sili-nctd  the  unwelcome  monitor  in  death. 

Meanwhile,  the  returniiiLT  soldiers  had  excit<'d  the  anxiety  of  the 
Franciscans;  and,  at  their  instance,  hon  Antonio  do  J*>i)ejo,  a 
rich,  brave,  and  pious  man,  set  out,  in  l,"iH'J,  with  Father  J ier- 
nardine  Jieltran,  but  arrived  only  to  learn  the  d.-ath  of  all.* 

Some  time  after,  two  other  l-'ranciscms,  who  accompanied  nu 
expedition  undi'r  Caslano,  w«'re  put  to  death  at  I'uaray,  but  nn 
details  remain. 

In  151)7,  .luan  dv  Onate  1('<1  a  colony  to  the  northern  Ki<> 
Ciraiide,  and  fomidcd  San  <;abrifl,  tlii'  !iisf  Spaiii>h  j)iist  in  that 
«{Uartcr.  IOiii;lit  Kranci-<.ins  had  sc-  «iut  with  him,  under  Fatlur 
iJoderic  l)uran;  but  as  the  latter  returned  with  a  part  of  the  forci-s, 
tlui  other  missionaries  procci'di'tl  with  I'ather  Alon/.o  Martine/,  .•!> 
commissary  or  sn)ieri(»r.  For  a  year,  <  hlatc  was  i'ni;ai,^«'d  in  estab- 
lishiuDf  his  ])ost  and  explorinj;  tlu-  «ounlry — the  missionaries,  on 
their  sitle,  investi<j;ating  the  maiuicis,  customs,  language,  and  n- 


*  Mcn-lozn,  Kolaoioii  <lc  \ix  Simi,  Madrid,  l.'*^0;  Turqiicjiiada,  Monnrquiii 
Indiat)!!,  iii.  ;{.')U,  (!_'•!;  Croniii'.U'  dis   Ftt'ros    Miiieiirs,   ii. ;    Knsa^o  Ooiin 
lojji'O,  1")');  VciK'jLfHs,  Hi-^toiiv  do  la  ('alilbiJiii',  i.  I'Jl. 

IlrothiT  Ivodriv'iuv,  was  a  nativo  of  Niolila,  and  took  the  Franoisfaii  IiaMt 
i:i  tlio  proviiuT  oi'tlio  llcly  (iospi-l  in  Mexico.  His  lite  was  vcrv  cxciiiplary, 
and  hirt  jkikuk'i'.-*  (  xtnm'iinary  ;  hu  iicvir  laid  aj^idi"  liis  liair  uliirt  and  in'ii 
(.'Irdlo.  Zacatoeas  \  as  lia-  tirnt  pccmc  of  liis  IuImips;  tlifii  tin-  valley  of  St. 
liarllioloinow,  uin!  iiiiaily  New  Me  ^  ■  >.  Fatliir  Francis  Lopez  was  an  Andii- 
liisian,  l>on»  at  Si  viliL-  of  a  ns|icctal»lc  t".iiiiily,  noted  for  pii-ty.  Al  tlio  aL'c  "t 
seventeen,  lie  took  \\]^^  l;abit  in  tlie  convent  of  ,\ere/.  'e  la  Fro!>tera,  Fatliif 
.lohn  d»-  Simla  Maria  wii.-.  a  <  aialan,  and  entered  tin  Francisean  order  in 
Mexico. 


i 


SPANISH    Ml.SSIONS. 


71) 


I.  It'll  be- 
ll lu  i>ro- 

vico  biul 
!«•  <»t'  tlu' 
I'  }ij;aiii>l 
it  last  ol 
catli. 
•tyot'tlir 
l'>ju'j<),  a 
tlliT  Jmm- 
I* 

ianit'<l  ail 
^■,  but  n<^ 

lirni   Kit) 

t    ill  tliai 

Katli.r 

ic  torct'N 

lilK'/,  M> 

ill  t'stal'- 

aries,  uii 

and  n - 


i-r 


lo  Crui.ii 

Ian  lialiit 

Ifinplan. 

laiul  irmi 

•y  of  St. 

ill  Ali'la- 

liii  lit.'"'  "t 

Fat  la  r 

unler  in 


liufion  of  tho  jk'0|»1»'.  llavincf,  in  atUlitioii  to  tiio  kiiowlcil'^^o  al- 
ivatly  actjulit'ii  <»t"  tlk-ir  iiiccliaiiical  arts  aii<l  singular  u  ••  g^, 
>(H._lit  to  unravol  their  theology,  they  found  great  <liHieulty.  All 
w.'iv  loth  to  speak  at  any  Ifiigth  on  the  point.  They  leariie*!, 
In>\vever,  that  th»-y  adoied  ]>iineij»ally  thie*.'  <K'nions,  or  ralhcr 
-•'iiiiht  to  propitiate  tlu-in,  especially  in  times  of  drought.  Tlu'st; 
dfitit's  Were  called  (..'i)eapo,  Cacina,  and  llnniae»'  :  to  the  tii>l  of 
whom  a  te!nj>le  was  rais«'d,  some  ten  feet  >vide  and  twice  as  deej). 
At  tlu'  end  sat  tho  idol  of  stone  or  clay,  representing  tlu'  yf^'^A^ 
JM-aring  some  eggs  in  one  hand  and  some  ears  c>f  mai/«'  in  the 
(»th<r.  In  this  temple  an  old  woman  presi<led  as  priestess,  and  di- 
rected the  ceremonies  by  wliieh  the  natives  implorecl  rain — a 
bl<s>ing  the  more  necessary,  as  the  streams  fre<[Uently  run  dry.* 

At  the  close  of  a  year,  <  )nate  wished  to  send  a  report  of  his  }»ro- 
eeediiigs  to  Mexico.  To  In-ar  his  dispatches,  anil  urge  the  dispatch 
of  leintbrcemeiits,  he  s«'lected  the  commissaiy.  Father  Martinez, 
who  set  out  with  Father  (.'hristoj>ln'r  Sala/.ar  and  tlu*  lay-brother, 
I'.'ler  de  \'eigara  ;  but  on  the  way,  Father  ChriMopher  dieil,  and 
was  buried  under  a  tree  in  the  wiNK-rness. 

The  account  brought  by  Father  Martinez  induced  the  jtrovin- 
eial  to  sen<i  new  mis>ionaries,  and  as  Martinez  was  unable  to  refiu'n, 
l-'atlu-r  John  de  Kscalona,  a  ma.n  of  gicat  virtue  and  sanctity,  was 
eliosen  commissary  in  his  stead,  and  set  out  with  several  Fatheis 
of  his  order.  Meanwhile.  ( )fiate,  with  Fatln-r  Francis  de  Velasco 
and  a  lav-brother,  struck  tluther  into  the  niuntrv,  but  without 
etV.cting  any  iiocHJ. 

Tiu'ie  is  extant  a  letter  of  Father  F>calona,  dated  in  1<5()I,  in 
which  he  s|X'aks  di>pondingly  of  tho  Indian  mis>ion,  and  of  the 
little  good  which  he  and  his  associates  hail  as  vet  been  able  t<>  do. 


*  The  Pucroo  was  .liy  in  \'^'i'?>,  \\\v\  at  llie  lime  of  roroimtltv'n  cxpctlitloii, 
and  uiioe  niiicc,  Uie  Kio  (Jniiule  ilccll"  wjih  so  low,  tlmt  Ibr  nmiiy  juIIl-s,  it  rai! 
liir>Mi./h  a  f*ii1)terrunf«u  oliaiiiul,  kavintr  tlu-  main  quo  coinplftcly  dry. 


80 


AMKHICAN    t'ATIIOLIO    MISSIONS. 


from  the  maniKT  in  wliicli  TMlatf  controlltMl  and  inU'iTUptcMJ  their 
labors. 

His  su|H'riors,  li(>\v«'v«'r,  ili«l  not  shaiv  Iiis  (h'Sjyondoncv.  Tln'v 
sent  out  six  new  missionaries,  under  Fatlu-r  Kranris  do  Ksooltar, 
now  aj)|>ointo<l  su('('<'ss()r  to  M^aldna.  Indt-r  this  eiitcrprisini^ 
missionary,  tlie  chunh  took  new  lite.  Tht*  mis-^ionaries  ahva<lv 
liicrc,  JCscalona,  Francis  df  San  MiLrud,  I'lancis  dc  Zaniorra,  J.o|m' 
I/(pii<'rdo,  (laston  dc  I'eiaha,  skillt-d  in  all  tli<'  aect'ssories  iict-dcd 
— a  knowK'du^e  (tt'thf  Jauiriiap*  and  peopK',  and  a  sort  of  naturah- 
zation  amoniLf  th«'m — soon  madf  rapid  jnooii'ss.  I>y  the  year 
1(508,  when  Father  ICseolmr  was  at  last  allowed  to  resign  his  j)ost 
of  co!iimissary,  the  missionaiirs  in  New  Mexico  had  baptized  eight 
thousand  of  the  people. 

His  KUcci'ssor,  I'athtM- Alonzo  Feinado,  was  no  less  skilful  as  a 
director,  or  successlid  as  a  missionary.  <  datluaily  tlui  Cross  ad- 
vanced from  town  to  tt>wn,  and  in  all  won  votaries,  who  at  last 
forsook  Cocapo  to  woi^ship  Christ.* 

<  >f  t4ie  state  of  the  mission  in  1020,  less  than  thirtv  vears  aftt-r 
its  foundatittii,  wv  have  a  <letailed  account,  in  a  Memoir  addressed 
to  the  Spanish  court  by  Father  li*'naNi«les,  one  of  the  apostles  of 
New  Mexico.  A  mission  had  just  then  been  established  at  So- 
corro, making  the  twenty-seventh  in  Xi'W  .Nfexico.  Several  of 
thes(f  stations  }>ossessed  large  and  beautiful  ehurcln's.  At  Queres 
all  were  baptized,  and  many  of  tin  Indians  jiad  learned  to  read 
and  write.  I'our  th(»usand  had  been  ba])tized  at  Tanos,  two  thou- 
sand at  Taos,  and  many  at  other  towns.  There  were  residence's 
or  convents  at  St.  Antonio  or  Senecu,  Socorro,  J'ilabo.  Sevilleta, 
St.  Francis,  and  Islela,  among  the  Topinu*,  the  Teoas,  the  IMcuries, 
and  at  Zurti,  while  Santa  Fe,  I'ecos,  St.  Joseph  or  Hemes,  and  the 
(.^►ueres  could  boast   their  sumptuous  ehindies  ;  and  missionaries 


*  Torqueuiadii,  Mommiuiu  liidiaaut,  ii.  67t,',  vvc.  iii.  ;}.jlt;  Kiiswyo  Croiii> 
loLfifO,  170. 


SPANISH    MISSIONS. 


81 


.m]  tlioir 

Tli.'v 
Csooltar, 

alivjKly 
a,  I^ojM' 

latmali- 
lie  yi'ar 

llis   jK)St 

[id  eij^ht 

fill  as  a 

ross  atl- 

at  hist 


ir 


() 


s  atUT 

tk's  ot" 
at  Su- 
ral   of 

(^IK'IVS 

road 

tlintl- 
(IcUf'-s 
vill.'lM. 

curit's 

n.l  til.- 

iiarii's 

k'rono- 


\\(T«*  ivsidiii*;-,  not  only  in  tin-  dillii-iilt  nii»ion  of  /in'ii,  l>iit  in 
AcoMia,  \Nliicli  had  so  ol'irn  lu'in  ifdilfnt'tl  with  S|);inish  Mootj. 
So  rapid  had  iK't-n  the  j'-oixros  ot'  ( 'hristianily  and  ii\  ili/.ation  on 
thi'  liio  (dandf,  that  the  Indians,  or  rni-l»los,  as  tln-y  ln'ir.m  to  ho 
fail«'d,  tonld  it-ad  and  writi'  thi-rc,  lu-t'orr  thf  Turitans  wvn'  r>tal>- 
li-hi'd  on  tilt'  shores  ot"  New  I'iiii^land.* 

Ainonir  tiiosi*  who  ('((ntrihtitrd  to  !»rinLr  ai»ont  so  happy  a  rrsnlt, 
wcif  Father  In-navides,  l-'athers  i.ojie/,  and  S.-das  at  .lunianas, 
I  alher  <  >rle<ro,  and  we  may  a<ld,  the  venerai»le  Maria  de  Jesus  do 
At^reda,  whoso  mysterious  connection  with  the  New  Mexican  mis- 
sion. N\h«'ther  now  believed  or  not,  certaiidy  dr«'W  great  attention 
to  it,  and  i^ave  it  an  extraordinaiy  impidse.  Uoiiavidt's  met  a 
trihe  which  no  missioiiaiy  had  as  yet  rea<diO(l,  and  found  them,  to 
his  ama/cment,  instructed  in  the  doctrines  of  Christianity.  <  Mi  in- 
•  juiriiig,  lie  learneil  that  they  had  heeii  taiiLfht  hy  a  lady,  whose 
form  and  dross  thoy  dosorihod.  This  account  he  gavo  in  ins  work, 
p'.ihlishod  in  Ki.'MKf  Sul>se<jUently,  Father  IJcrnardiiie  ile  Sena 
told  him  that  the  nun,  Maria  de  Aufeda,  had,  eight  yeais  hefoio, 
related  to  him  apj)aritions  ot"  a  similar  character.  Uenavides  then 
visitod  her,  and  was  at  once  struck  with  iier  resemMance  to  the 
ladv  described  by  the  Indians,  and  still  more  so  by  In-r  aecount  of 
the  country  ami  the  labors  of  the  missionaries,  of  wiiich  she  re- 
lated many  remarkable  incidents.]; 

The  dillicult  mission  (tf /uni  had  been  confided  to  F'ather  .I()liii 
Tetrad*).  After  sjtentliiig  some  time  there,  he  it'soUed  to  att«'mpt 
the  spiritual  coiKjiiest  of  the  C'ipias,  out  i>orishe<l  in  his  work  of 


*  licnnviilos'  Memorial,  Madri.l,  K^ii). 

+  This  work  i.s  in  tlic  lllirarv  <>f  Ilarvanl  ( 'nlloire. 

*  Sro  his  lottcr  in  V.  I'aloii  Vidu  <ifl  I'.  .luuiporo  Sorra,  ",31,  and  u  letter 
ot"  Muriu  lie  Au'reda,  :-;7.  For  lur  accomit,  si-t;  "La  mistica  »'iii<la<l  <lo 
I>iu«i."  a  copy  ot'whioh  is  at  St.  .lolin's  <'olli'irt',  FonlliaiM.  Tiu(  <li-iMis>i(ins 
as  tu  licr  revi'lutions  lu'vaine  (luitc  a  oontruvcrM,  urni  occupy  scverul  vol- 
iitucs,  but  no  final  decision  was  eviT  iiiad«  in  their  I'uvur. 


82 


AMKIUCAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


7A'n\.  Similar  >\as  tlio  I'ato  «>t  la(i»  r  Martin  tic  Arl>i«.K',  who,  uii- 
ilaiiittoit  l>y  tlu-  <lani;»'r,  atliin|)i«'(|  to  iva<'li  tlio  sain»'  lril)e.* 

(jiratlimlly  various  caiisi's  wnii  to  liavo  tliivi-ii  tlu-  luissionarioH 
fVoiii  most  of  tlu'se  posts.  \o  ^ciKial  revolt  occiim-d,  bill  lli«! 
ti'iritoiy  must  lia\tf  Imtii  al>aii(loiir<l  ln't'orc  1(100.  In  that  y»'ar 
two  missiuiiaiit's  lU'tunicd,  t'uuinl«'tl  missions,  and  jUracluMi  tor  twt> 
years.  Tho  Indians  then  rose  aixain>(  them,  stripped  them  nak«d, 
and  expelled  them  from  tlieir  villai;es.  \  icldiny-  to  the  storm,  they 
letired  to  I'arrai,  wiiere  thev  were  fo\md  hv  soiiie  Spanish  soldiers 
nearly  dead  with  eold  and  liune«'r.  Th«'y  soon  recovered  their 
str»'iii;th,  and  undeterred  l»y  the  past,  returned  in  the  t'ollowinL.' 
year  and  founded  successively  the  missions  of  ( )ur  Lady  la  iJe- 
donda,  Collani,  Santa  Ke,  San  Pedro  del  Cuchillo,  San  Cristohal, 
San  Juan,  and  (Juadalu)>e.  /uni  was  the  last  mission  fouiuled  at 
this  timc.f  Once  more  the  churches  tlourishod,  and  the  (atholie 
Indians  for  sevtM'al  years  enjoved  all  tho  hlessinijs  of  reliirion  ;  the 
pap^an  porti(»n,  however,  were  still  obdurate,  and  maintained  a 
stubborn  oj>posilion  to  the  missionaries.  In  1080  they  succeeded 
iit  raisinnf  a  uftMicral  revolt,  in  which  all  but  San  .luan  do  los  Ca- 
belleros  joined.  A  scene  of  }>illaii;e  and  di'vastat ion  ensued  :  San 
]*ascual,  Sevillete,  and  Socorro  were  destroyed,  and  missionarit's 
v.'ere  killed  at  several  of  the  stations,  as  well  as  among  the  Motjuis 
and  Xavajoes,  to  whom  some  adventurous  Fathers  liad  penetrate<l.| 

After  a  few  yeai's  peace  was  again  restoi'ed  :  the  missions  rose 
again,  never,  indeed,  on  the  same  footing,  as  many  churches  were 
never  rebuilt,  for  the  new  colonies  were  much  harassed  by  the 
Apaches. 

In  1733  a  new  mission  was  founded  among  the  Apaches  them- 
selves at  Jicarillas,  but  after  a  short  existence  it  closed,  the  In- 
dians retiring  to  tlioir  tribes.     A  new  niissionaiy  spirit  was,  how- 


i 


*  Ensayo  Cronolojrioo,  nnn.  1032. 

+  Villnrtcnor,  Teatro  Ainericuuo.  17-lS,  p.  411. 

t  Iluinboltlt,  Nou.  Esp.  2S5. 


SPANISH     MISSIONS. 


.^;> 


\n1i<>,  un- 

^ioiiari«*s 
bill  lli«' 
liat  vt'.ir 
1  for  two 
M  ii.'ikt-il. 
•nil,  tli«\ 

I  SoltliiTS 

•<'(l  llitir 
folltiuiiiiX 
ly  l:i  l:.- 
.'ristulcil, 
iihIimI  :it 
(Htlioli.- 
^it>n;  til.' 
itaiiio<l   a 

llCC01'cl«'«l 

!  los  Ca- 
A'd :  San 
i<)Tiai"i«'s 
Moijuis 
trateil.| 
Ions  rosi' 
I's  were 
by  the 

tliem- 

Itlie  ]n- 

%  how- 


«»v<'r,  ii>vak«'n«'tl  :  in  1TI-,  I'atbcr John  M«'nthtri»|)rort*«'(l«M|  to  thi; 
|i>rritory  ot'  thf  Motpiis  an<l  Navajoi-s,  an<l  with  hi.s  roiiipanions 
suroit'<l«'<l  in  n\ai\ini^  si-vt-ral  coiivi-rts  on  that  ^rouiul,  so  ot'it-n  tho 
•  ibj.M't  ot'  tlic  ambition  of  his  associates. 

\'ilIasrnor,  who  |»nbli>ht't|  his  Tcalro  Americano  in  17  IK,  ^ives 
a  brift"  but  HattrririLJ  picture  of  the  stat«'  of  the  country  at  tbal 
time.  I'he  Indians  were  all  Nveil  cla<l  in  stut!>  woven  by  tiie  wo- 
ni.ii  ;  industry  prevailed  in  their  villayfes,  with  it.s  attendants,  |M'ace 
.-md  abundance.  'I'lie  leli^ious  cdilices  efe<;ted  under  the  ilireclion 
of  the  Kran<'iscan  I'athers  couM  rival  tiioM*  of  Kurope.  In  a  reli- 
i^iou-;  pi'int  of  \iew,  tlie  New  Nb-xicans  were  not  interior '.»  their 
Spanish  neighbors.  He  t-nunjerales  ihr  followiiiLf  as  the  tlu-n  ox- 
i-tiuLf  missions:  Sant  ' 'ru/,  i'eios,  (Jaiisteo,  ras«»,  San  l.oreiizo, 
SiM-orro,  Zia,  ('andei<  las,  'I'aos,  Santa  Ana,  San  Ai^u«<tin  de  Isirta, 
'i<'/.u<|Ue,  N'aiiibe,  Sail  lldefoiiso,  Santa  ( "lara,  San  .luan  de  los 
('abelleros,  iN'curies,  Coclilti,  .b.'iiies,  LaufUiia,  .\c<mia,  <  iiiailaiupo, 
each  aveiat»iiiuf,  a->  it  would  seem,  about  a  liundieij  tamilie-;.* 

'J'lies*;  missions  all  coiitiniiu  to  tiie  pres4'nt  time  with  one  or  two 
exceptions,  and  the  last  fourteen  are  still  ilirected  by  Catholic, 
iMi»ionaries,  allhoiigh  Spain  lost  her  power,  and  .Nbxico  after 
•'ie.-itlv  iniurinu:  the  missions  by  her  plunderini;  laws,  tinallv  vieMcd 
the  country  Ut  the  I'nited  States.  Since  that  period  New  Mexico 
was  made  a  Vicariate  Apostolic,  and  finally  a  bishopric,  by  the  erec- 
tiuii  of  the  see  of  Santa  Ke.  The'  liight  lieveiend  .b»hn  Lamy  in 
iiis  rejKjrt  for  1854,  estimates  the  Indian  Catholic  jK>j»ulation  of 
his  see  at  8U0().f  Jhey  are  g«*nerally  pious,  industrious,  peaceable, 
and  instructed,  many  being  able  to  read  and  write  ;  their  deputies 
s^'iit  to  Wju<hington  compare  favorably  with  those  of  the  most  civ- 
ilized tribes. 

"The  Pueblo  or  half-civilized  Indians  of  this  territorv,"  savs  the 
last  government  report,^  "  are  in  a  satisfactoiy  condition  in  every 

*  Villasffn.r.  •111-1'J'J.  t  Alumnae,  IS.ll. 

I  Mossa;:i'  oi'tlic  President  of  tlic  Unito-l  States,  1S.'»4,  |«.  1J9. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

^Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)872-4503 


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}\ 


84 


AMElilCAN    CATHOLIC   MISSION'S. 


respect.  They  reside  in  \illages  situated  upon  grants  made  to 
them  by  the  governments  of  Spain  and  Mexico,  and  subsist  them- 
selves comfortably  by  cultivating  the  soil,  and  rearing  herds  and 
flocks  of  various  kinds.  Each  tribe  or  pueblo  has  a  separate  or- 
ganized government  of  its  own,  though  all  fashioned  after  the 
same  model.  They  annually  elect  their  respective  governor,  lieu- 
tenant-governor, and  various  other  minor  oflicers.  Many  of  them 
speak  the  Spanish  language  quite  well,  and  they  usually  clothe 
themselves  quite  comfortably,  often  in  cloth  of  their  own  manu- 
facture. They  have  ceased  to  rely  upon  the  chase  for  a  subsist- 
ence, and  very  rarely  commit  depredations  upon  others,  but  are 
orderly  and  decorous  in  their  deportment.  Each  pueblo  or  village 
has  its  church.  When  disputes  arise  between  two  pueblos,  or  be- 
tween them  and  their  more  civilized  neighbors,  the  matter  is  in- 
variably laid  before  the  territorial  governor,  and  his  decision  is 
invariably  regarded  as  final.  From  the  best  information  I  can 
gather,  these  pueblos  or  villages  number  about  twenty,  and  the 
aggi'egate  number  of  souls  may  be  set  down  at  from  8  to  10,000." 


CHAPTER   V. 


MISSIONS     IN     TEXAS. 


French  Eecollets  in  Texas  with  La  Sftllc — Their  fate — Spanish  miss!on«— Plan  of  these 
missions — ^Thelr  snspension — Restoration  in  1717 — Villaseuor's  account — Their  de- 
struction in  1813 — Present  state. 

The  discovery  of  the  Mississippi  by  Father  Marquette,  its  ex- 
ploration to  the  mouth  by  La  Salle,  and  especially  his  attempted 
colonization,  revealed  by  his  shipwreck  on  the  coast  of  Texas, 
drew  the  attention  of  the  Spanish  authorities  to  the  tenitoiy  bor* 


SPANISH    MlSSiONS. 


85 


tiding  on  Mexico.  It  was  icsoIvcmI  to  extend  tlie  jK)sts  in  Florida 
and  Coahuihi  towards  the  Missis.si{)}>i,  and  a  small  detachment  was 
sent  to  reduce  La  Salle's  party  :  they  found  ogly  the  ruins  of  the 
\hv\,  which  had  been  destroyed,  uith  all  its  imnates,  by  the  neiirU- 
boring  Indians.  All  fear  of  French  occupation  was  consequently 
dispelled ;  but,  to  secure  the  country,  it  was  deemed  advisabK^  to 
leave  some  Franciscan  missionaries,  who  thus  began  the  mission 
of  San  Francisco. 

In  the  following  year  fourteen  priests,  and  seven  lay-brothers  of 
the  same  order,  Avere  sent,  with  fifty  soldiers  under  Don  Domingo 
Teran,  and  founded  eight  missions ;  three  among  the  Texas,  four 
among  the  Cadodachos,  and  on  the  (luadalupe  Kiver.  These  mis- 
sions were  begun  on  the  usual  plan  :  each  station  having  gener- 
ally two  Fathers  and  a  lay-brother,  stiveral  families  of  civilized 
Indians  from  Mexico,  well  supplied  with  all  necessary  stock  and 
implements,  and  a  small  guard  of  soldiers  for  the  protection  of  the 
little  colony. 

One  Father  attended  to  spiritual  atfairs  exclusively,  the  other  to 
the  civilizing  of  the  Indians  imluced  to  join  the  mission,  teaching 
them  agriculture  and  the  various  arts  of  life.  It  wa«  his  task,  too,  to 
visit  the  neighboring  tribes,  and  by  preaching  gain  new  members 
foi  the  colony.  W  hen  an  Indian  joined  the  mission  he  was  in- 
structed, and  his  labor  for  a  time  went  to  the  common  stock,  from 
which  he  drew  food,  clothing,  and  other  necessaries.  When,  after 
a  few  yeai*s'  probation,  he  was  deemed  capable  of  self-management, 
a  field  was  allotted  to  each,  and  a  house  raised  for  him.  If  not 
manied,  he  was  urged  to  select  a  wife  from  the  Christian  women. 
In  this  way  the  mission  became  suiTounded  by  a  village,  and  <as 
the  Indians  learned  Spanish,  and  frequently  intemiarried  with 
Spaniards,  they  were  soon  confounded  with  them. 

The  fii-st  attempt,  which  we  have  just  mentioned,  was  destined  to 
meet  with  revei'ses.  The  crops  failed,  the  cattle  died,  the  soldiers 
became  odious  to  the  Indians,  so  that  in  a  few  years  the  Fathers 


86 


AMEllICAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


I* 


loft,  and  Texas  was  again  a  field  awaiting  tlie  hand  to  cultivate  it 
and  reap  its  spiiitual  harvest. 

**  Jjouisiana  mean\JjiJe  became  a  permanent  and  thriving  settle- 
ment. The  ajyen^ous  (Radian,  St.  Dennis,  resolved  to  open  a 
commercial  intercoui'se  with  Mexico,  and  in  1714  struck  across 
Texas  to  the  "nearest  Spanish  post.  His  arrival  spread  consterna- 
tion throuirh  the  frontiers.  Don  Domingo  Kamon  was  at  once 
sent  with  a  number  of  religious  to  restore  the  missions,  as  the 
surest  means  of  forming  a  barrier  to  French  encroachment.  Father 
Augustine  Padron  do  Guzman  accordingly  restored  the  mission 
of  San  Miguel  among  the  Adayes  in  171*7,  and  another  Father 
that  among  the  Texas  Indians.  Two  years  after  war  broke  out 
between  the  two  countries,  and  the  authorities  in  Mexico,  deeming 
the  posts  too  much  exposed,  recalled  the  missionaries  to  San  An- 
tonio. When  peace  was  declared,  the  Marquis  de  San  Miguel  de 
Aguayo  led  back  the  Fath-'rs  to  their  original  station.  Between 
1721  and  174G  missions  were  founded  at  San  Francisco,  in  the 
centre  of  Texas,  San  Joso,  among  the  Nazones,  Nuestra  Sefiora  de 
Guadalupe,  among  the  Nacogdoches,  and  Nuestra  Sefiora  del  Pilar, 
among  the  Adayes,  as  well  as  among  the  Asinais  and  Aes.  These 
were  all  directed  by  Fathers  of  the  order  of  St.  Francis,  chiefly 
from  Queretaro  and  Zacatecas.*  The  zeal  of  the  missionaries  led 
tliem  also  to  the  towns  of  the  Cocos,  and  even  to  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  the  Osages  and  Missouris,  where  one  lost  his  life,  and 
another,  long  a  prisoner,  at  last  escaped.f 

The  missions  in  Texas  reached  those  of  New  Mexico,  and  em- 
braced many  tribes.  A  missionary  manual,  printed  in  1760,  for 
the  use  of  the  Fathers,  shows  that  they  extended  them  from  Can- 
delaria  to  San  Antonio.  It  purports  to  be  adapted  to  the  Paja- 
lates,  Orejones,  Pacaos,  Pacoas,  Tilyayas,  Alasapas,  and  Pausauas, 
as  well  as  several  others  less  connected  with  the  raissions.J    Among 

*  Villnscnor,  Toatro  Americano,  319.  t  Charluvoix. 

X  Fr.  liart.  Garcia,  Manual  para  a<linini.strar  los  bncramentort,  1760. 


i\ 


SP.VNISIl   MISSIONS. 


87 


tlio  ablest  missionaries  in  the  field  >vere  Fathers  Josei^h  Guatlalupe 
I'rado  and  Bartholomew  Garcia.  »  ' 

A  full  history  of  this  mission  was  compgicd  about  the  year 
1783,  by  one  of  the  Fatiiors,  whicli  is  still  in  manuscript,  and  will 
furnish,  when  published,  a  complete  account  of  the  labors  of  the 
apostolic  men,  of  whom  the  present  writer  can  only  glean  occa- 
sional notices.* 

The  missions  subsisted  in  a  flourishing  state  tilHSl'J,  when  they 
were  suppressed  by  the  Spanish  government,  and  the  Indians  dis- 
persed. Some  returned  to  Mexico :  more  remained  in  various 
parts  near  the  old  mission  sites,  faithful  to  their  I'eligion,  and  fer- 
vent in  its  duties,  wlien  occasion  oftered  them  the  happiness  of 
meeting  a  priest.  They  were,  in  fact,  destitute  of  missionaries  till 
1832,  when  Father  Diaz  was  sent  to  Nacogdoches  by  the  liisliop 
of  Monterey,  but  he  was  not  destined  to  a  long  career.  Scai'(;ely 
had  he  labored  a,  year  among  the  scattered  flock,  wiien  he  fell  a 
victim  to  his  zeal,  having  been  murdered  by  some  roving  Indians.f 

The  Anglo-iVmerican  colonization,  the  revolt  of  Texas,  and  sub- 
sequent wars,  neutralized  every  effort  to  restore  the  missions,  and 
a  few  scattered  Indians  alone  remain  of  the  thousands  once  jrath- 
ered  around  the  misvsion  altare.  A  noble  monument  of  the  skill 
of  the  Fathers,  and  the  improvement  of  tlieir  neophytes,  remains 
in  the  many  churches,  aqueducts,  and  other  public  works,  built 
by  Indian  hands,  which  still  remain  on  Texan  soil. 


*  I  liad  the  work  in  my  hands,  and  was  in  treaty  for  it«  purchase  ;  but 
contrary  to  every  expectation  on  my  part,  it  was  sold  without  my  knowledge 
to  another,  and  I  have  since  been  unable  to  trace  it. 

t  Ann.  Prop.  xiv.  453  ;  U.  S.  Cath.  Mag.  vi.  52,  558. 


■4* 


CHAPTER   VI. 


C  A  ].  I  F  O  H  N  I  A      MISSIONS. 


Discovery  of  California — Karly  missionary  atteini)ts — Jesuit  missions  founded  in  Lower 
California  by  Fatlit-r  Salvatiirra — Siipjjression  of  tliu  Jesuits — Franciscans  succeed 
them  in  California — Tiiey  commence  some  missions  in  Upper  California,  and  resign 
Lower  California  to  tlie  Dominicans — The  various  missions  founded  by  Father  Juni- 
per Scrra. 

CoRTEZ  liiinsolf,  tlie  conqueror  of  ^[exico,  discovered  the  penin- 
sula of  California,  and  its  gulf  loncf  bore  his  name.  It  was,  liow- 
ever,  subsequently  unnoticed,  till  the  close  of  the  fifteenth  centuiy, 
when  it  was  again  visited;  and  in  1596,  Vizcaino  sailed  to  ex- 
plore the  coast,  accompanied  by  some  Franciscan  missionaries, 
among  others  by  Perdomo,  who  had,  as  we  have  seen  already, 
traversed  Florida,  cross  in  hand.  A  church  and  palisade  fort 
were  thrown  up  at  Lapaz,  and  every  preparation  was  made  for  a 
permanent  settlement ;  but  Indian  hostilities  soon  induced  the  col- 
onists to  renounce  the  new  undertaking.* 

On  a  second  expedition,  in  1601,  the  explorer  was  attended  by 
three  Carmelite  Friai-s,  Fathers  Andrew  of  the  Assumption,  An- 
thony of  the  Ascension,  and  Thomas  of  Aquinas.  By  the  sixteenth 
of  December,  they  had  reached  Santa  Barbara,  Monterey,  and  San 
Francisco  ;  and  at  Monterey,  Fathers  Andrew  and  Anthony  land- 
ed, and  raising  a  rustic  altar  beneath  the  spreading  branches  of 
a  time-honored  oak,  they  celebrated  the  divine  mysteries  of  our 
faith.  This  may  be  considered  the  natal  day  of  the  Upper  Cali- 
fornia mission.f 


*  Venegaa,  Hist.  California,  i.  162  ;  Torqiieiu.  ii.  C82.        t  Ibid.  169. 


SPANISH   MISSIONS. 


89 


Tliis  portion  of  it,  however,  was  doomed  to  u  lotii;  negU'ct ;  but 
subsequent  voyagers  explored  and  surveyed  tiie  coast  of  the  }Hnin- 
sula,  Avhich  was  soon  visited  bv  Franciscan  and  Jesuit  niissionanes. 
As  tlie  latter  here  founded  a  celebrated  mission,  which  led,  in  the 
end,  to  Franciscan  missions  in  Upper  California,  we  shall  glatico 
at  the  labors  of  the  Jesuits,  althoui^h  thev  never  extended  within 
tlie  present  limits  of  the  United  States.  The  work  of  the  famous 
California  mission,  next  to  the  reductions  of  I'araguay,  the  great- 
est in  the  annals  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  was  tirst  inaugurated  by 
Father  Hyacinth  Cortes  in  1642,  being  thus  contemporaneous 
with  the  Iroquois  and  Apalachian  missions.  The  Jesuits  were 
n<jt  formally  sent  to  it,  however,  till  1079,  and  even  then,  four 
yeai-s  elapsed  before  a  station  was  actually  founded  by  the  enter- 
prising German  F'ather  Euscbius  Kiihn,  or,  as  he  is  commonly 
called,  Kino.  His  mission,  moreover,  was  but  temporary  :  two 
years  later,  tljo  station  had  been  abandoned,  and  the  intrepid 
Kuhn  was  laboring,  with  a  zeal  truly  worthy  of  admiration,  among 
the  Pimos  and  other  Indians  of  l*imeria  Alta,  south  of  the  Gila. 
Fearless  by  nature  and  a  sense  of  duty,  he  went  alone  among 
them,  formed  them  into  villages,  prevailed  on  them  to  sow  their 
lands  and  raise  cattle.  The  Pimos  were  his  chief  care ;  but  as  other 
tribes  were  also  in  his  district,  he  learned  several  languages,  and 
translated  into  all  the  abridgment  of  Christian  doctrine  and  the 
usual  prayers  ;  he  likewise  composed  vocabularies  and  grammati- 
cal treatises  for  the  use  of  his  assistants  and  successor.  In  tiiese 
toils  he  continued,  till  his  death  in  IV 10;  but  as  he  labored 
chiefly  among  the  Southern  Pimos,  we  shall  not  dwell  at  further 
length  upon  the  Pimo  mission.* 


*  This  celebrated  missionary,  whose  real  name  was  Euscbius  Francis 
Kiihn,  though  called  in  Spanish  Kino,  was  born  in  Germany,  and  becoming 
a  Jesuit,  devoted  himself  to  scientific  studies.  AVhile  I'rol'cssor  of  Mathe- 
matics at  Ingoldstadt,  he  was  considered  the  best  astronojner  in  Germany, 
lu  a  dangerous  illness,  he  had  resource  to  St.  Franci.s  Xavier,  and  vowed  to 


90 


AMElilCAN   CATHOLIC   .MISSIONS. 


Mcanwliilc,  FatluT  Salvaticrni  fouiulcd,  at  Lorctto,  in  1097,  tlio 
iirst  pciiiiaiu'iit  mission  in  Calillonia.  h'lOMi  that  )>oiiit,  Ciiiistiani- 
ty  p'adually  extended  to  tiie  nortli,  and  station  af'ttT  station  aroso, 
where  the  Indians  were  gathered  around  tiie  [thick  gowns  to  hear 
the  words  of  truth.  These  concjuests  over  idolati y  and  barharisni 
were  not  achieved  witliout  loss,  and  the  arid  soil  ot' Lower  Calitoi-- 
iiia  is  dyed  with  the  blood  of  heroic  missionaries ;  but  undaunted 
by  loss  of  life,  unbroken  by  defeat,  the  Jesuit  missionaries  of  Cali- 
fornia were  still  the  pioneers  of  civilization  and  the  faith,  when 
the  Spanish  king,  yielding  to  the  advice  of  unj^incipled  men,  or- 
dered them  to  be  torn,  in  a  single  dav,  from  all  their  missions 
throughout  his  wide  domains.  At  that  time,  Father  Wenceslans 
Link  was  continuing  the  explorations  of  Klihn — advancing  along 
the  l*acitic  to  CJuiricata  or  St.  John  of  God  ;  his  associates,  \'i(!to- 
rian  Arnes  and  John  Josej)h  I)iez,  were  founding  at  Ciibujakaa- 
mang,  under  the  31st  parallel,  the  last  Jesuit  mission  of  St.  Mary's, 
the  limit  of  their  zeal  and  labors. 

Accused  of  no  crime,  condemned  without  a  trial,  the  missiona- 
ries were  dragged  from  amid  their  neophytes,  who,  in  wonder, 
grief,  and  consternation,  deplored  their  loss.  On  the  3d  of  Febru- 
aiy,  1*708,  every  Jesuit  was  carried  oif  a  prisoner  from  Calitbrnia.* 

Unjust  as  the  government  had  been  to  the  Jesuits,  it  was  not 
insensible  to  the  claims  of  their  Lidian  neophytes.  A  body  of 
Franciscans  had  been  ordered  to  enter  the  country  and  continue 
the  good  work.     As  the  sixteen  Jesuit  piisoners  landed  at  San 


devote  his  life  to  the  missions,  liecovering,  he  fulfilled  his  vow,  solicited  ft 
forei<rn  post,  and  was  sent  to  America.  There  he  became  the  apostle  of  So- 
norii  and  California,  and  was  the  first  to  announce  the  gospel  to  the  tribes  in 
the  Colorado.  Vcnegas,  Hist.  California,  i.  188 ;  Alegre,  Hist,  de  la  Conip. 
do  Jesus,  iii.  119. 

*  Chwigcro  Storia  dcUn  California,  ii.  176-204.  This  is  the  most  coniplcto 
account  of  the  missions,  as  it  was  written  after  the  suppression.  Vencgiis 
was  written  prior  to  it.  A  tolerable  account  maybe  found  in  the  Histoiir 
Chriiticuno  de  la  Californic,  Paris,  1S.")3.  , 


SPANISH    MISSIONS. 


Ui 


Bhis,  twelve  Fianciscjms  and  four  secular  priests  prepared  to  em- 
bark on  the  same  vessel  to  till  their  stations. 

Of  these  new  missionaries,  the  leader  was  Father  Juniper  Serra, 
a  Majorean,  already  well  trained  to  the  laltors  of  an  Indian  mis- 
sion in  various  parts  of  ^h'xict).*      I}y  the  lust  of  April,  Iw  and 


his  elev< 


Ins  eleven  companions  (tor  the  Franciscans  always,  if  possibk',  went 
forth  iu  companies  of  twelve),  reached  Loretto,  the  centre  of  the 
Jesuit  mission. 

After  placini(  priests  in  the  various  stations  occU})ied  by  his 
})redecessors,  Father  8erra  beu^an  carrying  into  etl'ect  the  wish  of 
tiie  government,  to  found  three  missions  in  Uj)per  California — 
one  at  !San  Carlos  de  Monterey  in  the  north,  another  at  San  l)iego 
in  the  south,  and  a  third  at  San  Bonaventuru  in  the  middle  dis- 
trict. Galvez,  then  visitor  for  tlie  king,  was  charged  with  the 
establislinient  of  these  new  posts,  and  Father  Serra  at  once  named 
friars  to  begin  a  mission  at  each.  The  ex})edition  was  to  set  out 
m  three  divisions,  one  by  land  and  two  by  sea.  Cf  the  latter,  the 
first  sailed  in  January,  IVOO,  bearing  Father  Ferdinand  I'arron, 
the  second  iu  February,  with  Fathers  John  Vizcaino  and  Francis 
Gomez ;  Serra  himself  accompanied  the  land  force,  w  ith  de  la 
Canipa  and  Lazven,  and  meeting  the  others  at  Vellicata,  founde<l 
there,  with  much  ceremony,  the  mission  of  St.  Ferdinand,  leaving 
Father  Michael  de  la  Campa  as  missionary,  with  a  nund)er  of 
Christian  Indians,  one  fifth  of  [i>o.  live  stock,  and  a  supply  of  corn, 
to  begin  a  reduction.  Before  tnc  expedition  proceeded,  the  na- 
tives had  begun  to  gather  around  and  enter  into  friendly  relations 
with  the  missionaiy  and  the  Christian  Indians  who  attended 
him. 

Meanwhile  Father  Crespi,  with  a  portion  of  the  troops,  had 
pushed  on  to  San  Diego,  whither  Serra  soon  followed  him,  after 


*  Paloii,  Eelacion  Ilistoricu  dc  la  Vida  del  V.  Padre  Frai  Junipero  Sorru, 
Mexico,  1787,  p.  53,  ct  scq. 


02 


AMKIUCAN    CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


vainly  attctnptinff  to  roach  tho  Colorado  as  Father  Link  liad  done* 
On  the  first  of  July,  S«M-ra  reached  tho  port  of  San  I>iei;o,  and 
found  there  not  only  Crespi,  but  Vizcaino,  Tarron,  and  ( Jonie/,  who 
had  come  l)y  soa,  and  wore  of  the  few  who  escaped  tho  diseases 
which  had  broken  out  on  l)oard.  The  mission  of  San  Hiego  was 
now  founded  on  tlio  lOth  of  July,  I769,f  on  the  banks  of  tlu; 
stream  of  that  name,  and  in  a  long  and  narrow  valley,  formed  by 
two  chains  of  parallel  hills,  embosoming  a  d«'lightful  prairie.  The 
natives,  Comeyas,  were  a])parently  friendly,  and  eviMy  thing  seeme<l 
to  promise  speedy  success.  The  missionaries  at  once  set  about  the 
erection  of  two  buildings,  one  for  a  chapel,  the  other  for  dwellings; 
but  just  as  all  wore  congratulating  themselves  on  tho  prospects 
before  them,  the  liouse  was  attack«'d  by  the  Indians,  who  had 
already  begun  to  commit  (h»})redations.  The  door  was  only  a  mat, 
and  before  the  assailants  could  bo  repelled  a  boy  was  killed,  an<l 
Father  Vizcaino,  with  four  others,  wounded. 

Notwithstanding  this  act  of  violence,  amicable  relations  were  at 
bust  established,  and  the  mission  continued  its  labors.J  Crespi, 
wdio  liad  returned  from  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  reach  Monterey, 
now  set  out  with  a  new  expedition  by  sea,  as  Sena  did  with  another 
bv  land.  Thev  met  at  Monterey,  in  17*70,  and  founded  the  mission 
of  San  Carlos,  leaving  the  usual  number  of  Indians,  with  a  supply 
of  cattle,  and  a  guard  of  soldiers. 

When  the  news  of  the  establishment  of  these  missions  reached 
the  city  of  Mexico,  universal  joy  prevailed,  and  tho  bells  rang  out 
a  peal  of  triumph,  as  for  the  conquest  of  a  realm.§     Father  Sena 

*  Pnlon,  Rt'lacion,  p.  74 ;  Serra  Imd  Link's  journal.  t  Ibid,  p.  82. 

X  To  srive  an  iilea  ot'tlie  lan<»nagc  of  tho  Indians  at  this  mission,  wc  insert 
the  Our  Father  in  their  lanjjuairc  : 

"Najrua  anall  aniai  tacaj;uai'h  nasnanotuuxp  mamnmulpo  cayuca  amaibo 
niamatam  meyayani.eanaao  aniat  amaibo  quoxnic  ccliasau  naguagui  nafiacu- 
chon  nuquin  fiipil  nioficquc  pachis  eclieyucliapo  nagua  quexuic  napuaich 
Macafruaihpo,  nania(.'haint.'lanipuohucli-guelioh-cuiapo  Nacuiuclipanipcuoli- 
lich  cuitpouamat,  Nepeuja." 

§  Palou,  Ktslacion,  p.  107.  »' 


I 


SPANISH    MI- SIGN'S. 


d  (lone* 
t'tfo,  aiul 
iK'Z,  who 
:  (liseast'S 
iego  was 
:s  of  the 
hiiumI  hy 
•io.  TIU! 
Lj;  SCCIIUmI 
ibout  tlie 
weUings ; 
prospocts 
who  had 
ily  a  mat, 
illed,  and 

IS  were  at 

Crespi, 

lonterev, 

I  another 

mission 

a  supply 

reached 
fan*?  out 
kr  Seri'u 


L  p.  82. 
|\ve  insert 

[a  amaibo 
li  fiafiaca- 
Inagiiaich 
Impcuob- 


oalled  tor  m-w  auxiharics  ;  thirty  wfic  chost'U,  hy  th«'  superior  of 
tlio  order  in  ^f<'xic(),  to  ijo  and  till  the  new  tii'id ;  and,  amid  the 
i^t'iK'ral  exuhation,  the  sons  of  St.  1  )omini('  appiie<l  for  leave  to  enter 
tiiat  land  of  missions. 

Ten  of  the  Franciscans  were  intended  for  Uj^per  California,  and 
these  Fatheix  reachinuf  San  1  >iei;o  in  March,  1 77 1, 1)V  tlie  followini; 
month  joined  th<'ir  superior  in  tlie  heautiful  veijas  of  ('armel  at 
Moiitt-rey.  The  feast  of  Corpus  Christi  was  celebrated  soon  after, 
with  a  pomp  such  as  the  wilderness  ha<l  never  seen  ;  twelve  priests 
joined  in  the  sacred  ]>rocession  to  honor  that  Real  I'resence  wiiich 
is  the  centre  of  (Jatholic  faith  and  worship. 

After  tliis  holy  solenmity,  Serra  ])roceeded  with  Father  Michael 
J^ieras  and  Father  lionaventure  Sitjar  to  a  beautiful  spot  on  the 
river  San  Antonio,  in  the  bosom  of  the  Sierra  Sa!ita  Lucia,  where 
a  towering  Canada  encircles  the  stream.  Here,  on  the  14th  of  July, 
1771,  he  founded  the  mission  of  St.  Anthony  of  Padua,  the  be- 
loved  Saint  of  the  Franciscans,  on  the  wide  grounds  of  theTelames. 
Hanging  aloft  his  mission  bells,  the  enthusiastic  Serra  tolled  them 
till  the  ravine  rang  again,  while  he  shouted  aloud  his  invitation  to 
the  natives  to  come  and  sit  down  iu  peace  beneath  the  cross  he 
had  planted. 

A  house  and  chapel  were  soon  raised  for  the  missionaiies,  with 
barracks  for  the  soldiers,  and  the  whole  was  encircled  by  a 
palisade.*  Difficulties  at  first  threatened  the  new  mission,  but  it 
was  soon  in  a  way  of  prosperity. 

The  next  undertakincr  of  Father  Serra  was  tlie  removal  of  the 


*  Palou,  Rclacion,  p.  158.  As  a  epeciinen  of  the  Tatclie,  or  Tclame,  wo 
jrivo  the  Lord's  Prayer : 

"  Ta  till  tno  quixoo  nope  leinaatnil  an  zncueteycm  na  ctzmatz  antsicjtsitia 
na  ejtinilina,  an  oitaha  natsmalosr,  ruilac  quicha  ncpe  lima  Maitiltiu.'  taha 
zizahimaijct  zizueanatel  ziczca.  Za  manimtlltac  na  zanayl  quicha  na  kac 
iipancnitilioo  na  zananaol  zi  nietza  commanatatelnec  zo  alinieta  zona  ziuxnia 
•?o  no  quissili  join  zig  zuinlaylitoc.     Amen." 


04 


AMKIUCAX   CATTIOTJC!   MISSIONS. 


f(i 


.  y 


Monti'ioy  mission,  wliicli  lio  lu'Ljan,  af't<'r  s^Miditii;  Katln  r  Kniiiri;-. 
Diiinutz  ami  Ijiis  .laynu!  to  San  l)i(u^()  to  i('jilac«»  tlic  niissio»'aii»'s 
tlion-,  wlio  both  sought  to  retire;  as  they  actually  <lltl  on  the 
arrivai  of  tliclr  sucressors.  Moiiteivv  Jahoi'cMl  imkKt  the  disadvan- 
tage  of  a  want  of  water  for  tlio  cattle  and  for  iiTigation.  SelecthiLi' 
a  site  on  the  banks  of  a  lltth;  stream  not  far  from  the  little  bay  of 
Cannol,  on  the  Hd  of  ,Iuno,  1770,  he  founded  tlie  mission  of  Mf. 
Carmel,  hemmed  in  by  the  mountains.  Ills  mission  cross  was 
planted  on  that  day,  and  befon;  tho  close  of  the  next  year  his 
chapel  and  buildings  were  all  comjileted. 

The  next  mission  to  be  founded  was  tliat  of  San  (labriel,  to  com- 
mence whicli  Father  Angelo  Somera,  and  Fath<'r  ]^'ter  IVnedlct 
Cambon,  set  out  in  Auufust,  1770.  AVlth  a  guard  of  ten  soldleis 
tliey  reache<l  the  Itlo  de  los  'i'emblores,  ;md  were  selecting  a  place 
to  plant  the  cross  when  the  Indians  lushed  down  upon  them.  Tn 
this  moment  of  danjjer  the  missionaries  unfurled  tlie  banner  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  and  as  its  azure  folds  opened  before  the  eyes  of  tlx- 
*f  astonished  natives,  and  the  radiant  form  of  Our  Lady  met  their 

eyes,  they  threw  down  their  ai'ms,  and  timidly  approached  to  oft'ei' 
her  all  they  liad  as  propitiatory  presents.  Peace  being  thus  won- 
derfully established,  the  good  Fatliers  planted  the  cross  at  the  foot 
of  a  sierra,  on  a  magnificent  plain,  near  the  Indian  villages  ot 
Juyubit,  Caguillas,  and  Sibapot.  The  first  mass  w.is  said  on  tin? 
8th  of  September,  and  buildings  were  soon  erected;  but  new 
troubles  arose.  These  missions  were  always  attended,  as  we  havt> 
seen,  by  a  few  sokliei-s,  generally  most  unfit  companions  for  the  mis- 
sionary of  peace.  Among  those  at  San  Gabriel  was  one  whose 
brutal  violence  roused  an  injured  husband  to  vengeance.  The  In- 
dians rose  in  arms,  the  house  was  attacked,  but  when  tlie  unfor- 
tunate leader  of  the  natives  was  shot  down  by  a  ball  from  his 
oppressor's  musket,  the  rest  fled.  The  guilty  man  was  now  driven 
from  the  mission,  and  the  Indians  at  last  were  appeased.  Fathers 
Somera  and  Cambon  now  began  to  sufter  from  the  climate,  and,  as 


< 


SPANISH    MIPSIOXS. 


0.-) 


issior'arit's 
d  on  the 
disjulvnii- 
ScloctiiiLi' 
tic  bav  of 

» 

ion  of  Mt. 
cross  was 
:  year  his 

'1,  to  com- 
I'  l^cntMlict 
en  soldiers 
uff  a  place 
thoni.     Tn 
iner  of  the 
eyes  of  the 
met  their 
led  to  ofter 
thus  woii- 
t  the  foot 
^'illages  ot 
id  on  the 
but  new 
we  have 
•  the  mis- 
e  whoso 
The  In- 
]\G  unfor- 
from  his 
(W  driven 
Fathois 
,  and,  as 


soon  as  tlieir  healtli  ptTinittt-il,  rt-tiri'tl  to  OM  California,  Kaviiii;  in 
tlitir  place  Fathers  Antonio  I'aterna  and  Antonio  Cru/adn,  who, 
on  their  way  to  the  site  selected  for  the  mission  of  St.  Botiavefjture, 


lia<l 


dth 


to  St.  (Jahriel. 


ia<l  aeconipanie<l  tnem  to  ^t.  ifai>nel.^ 

The  missions  thus  established  relied  at  fust  on  the  supplies 
iiroUL'ht  from  Mexico,  ami  in  a  short  time  want  |)rcss4'd  heavilv  on 
tliein.  This  was  especially  the  case  at  San  Piei^o,  so  that  one  of 
the  missionaries,  Father  Unmet/,  proceeded  to  Old  California  for 
relief  When  Serra  knew  their  distress  he  recalled  Father  Crespi 
to  Monterey,  and  sent  him  with  provisions  to  San  l>iego,  to  relieve 
the  laborious  Father  Jay  me. 

Father  Dumt.'tz  presently  returned  with  material  aid  and  also 
three  new  missionaries.  With  this  reinforcement  the  unwearied 
superior  resolved  to  found  a  new  mission,  that  of  San  Luis  TMuspo, 
on  a  knoll,  in  n  beautiful  plain,  sheltered  by  low  wooded  hills,  and 
well  watered,  as  well  as  easy  of  access  from  the  sea.  The  mission- 
cross  was  planted  on  the  1st  of  September,  1*772,  and  a  church  and 
barracks  were  immediately  begun. 

After  laying  out  the  ground  for  the  mission  of  Santa  Barbara, 
and  dispatching  the  laborious  Crespi  with  Father  Dmnetz  to  Mon- 
terey, he  proceeded  to  Mexico,  where  a  change  of  governors,  an<l 
various  mattei*s  connected  with  the  missions,  required  his  presence. 

The  Dominicans,  as  wo  have  seen,  liad  sought  to  obtain  the 
California  mission ;  the  Franciscans  oftered  to  retire,  but  it  was 
finally  divided  between  them.  All  the  old  Jesuit  missions  in  Old 
California,  with  San  Ferdinand  of  Vellicata,  were  assigned  to  the 
Dominicans,  and  the  Franciscans  retained  only  those  which  their 
own  zeal  had  founded  in  the  upper  province.f  These  were  now 
to  receive  a  new  impulse  from  the  accession  of  missionaries  whom 


*  In  the  language  of  the  mission  of  St.  Gabriel,  the  Onr  Father  begins  thus : 
"  Y  youac  y  yogin  tucupiagnaisa,"  &c.     Duflot,  ii.  3!)3. 

t  For  an  account  of  the  Dominican  missions  see  "  Noticlas  do  la  provincin 
'Je  las  Californias  en  trcs  cartas  por  un  sacerdotc  religioso:"  Valencia,  1794. 


96 


AMKRICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


1 

! 

'  .s 

■■■\ 

1 

B'atlier  I'alou  brought  from  the  peninsula,  and  tVoiii  the  aid  which 
Father  Sena  sent  from  Mexico,  just  before  liis  return  in  May,  1774. 

While  some  f>f  these  Fathers  accompanied  expeditions  sent  t(t 
explore  the  coast,  P'athers  Lazven  and  (Jregoiy  Amurro  were  dis- 
patched, in  Octf)ber,  to  begin  between  San  J)iego  and  San  (Jabiiel 
the  mission  of  San  Juan  Capistrano.*  The  commencement  of  this 
mission  seemed  to  promise  great  success,  when  it  Avas  abandoned, 
and  the  bells  and  less  portable  objects  buried,  in  consequence  (A' 
the  news  of  a  startling  scene  that  had  transjnred  at  San  Diego. 

In  .November,  1775,  the  two  missionary  Fathers,  Jayme  and 
Vincente  Fuster,  were  rejoicing  in  the  success  of  their  labore  at 
the  hist-named  mission,  which,  to  gain  the  confidence  of  the  native 
Comeyas  more  ejisily,  they  had  removed  from  the  fort,  when  thoy 
discovered  that  two  of  their  Christian  Indians  had  suddenly  left. 
Their  disappearance  surprised,  but  did  not  alarm,  the  missionaries, 
who,  supposing  them  to  have  taken  umbrage  at  something  said  or 
done,  sent  messengers  to  recall  them ;  but  it  was  not  such  a  trillc 
as  they  too  hastily  supposed.  These  men  had  gone  forth  to  rous<^ 
their  countrymen  to  destroy  the  missionaries.  Baptized  they  had 
been,  they  declared,  but  by  force ;  and  the  sacrament  was  but  a 
means  to  eftect  their  annihilation. 

This  idea  of  baptism  we  shall  find  in  the  sequel  in  almast  every 
tribe,  and  from  its  univei"sality  can  be  ascribed  only  to  him,  whose 
power  was  to  be  overthrown  by  the  fulfilment  of  the  connnand 
once  given  to  a  few  humble  men,  "  Go  and  baptize  all  nations." 
Not  less  credulous  to  the  words  of  the  tempter  than  the  Indians 
by  the  northern  lakes,  the  Californians  crowded  around  the  apos- 
tates. A  thousand  braves  resolve  to  attack  the  mission  and  fort, 
and  commit  them  to  the  flames,  when  the  inmates  shall  have  sunk 
under  their  murderous  arms.  On  the  night  of  the  4th  of  Novem- 
ber they  advanced  noiselessly  to  the  ravine  where  the  mission  lay ; 

*  Pnloii,  Reliieion,  174. 


% 


SPANISH   MISSIONS. 


97 


i  aid  which 
May,  1774. 
3ns  sent  td 
'o  were  dis- 
4an  (}al)iiol 
nent  of  this 
abandoned, 
sequence  of 
an  Diego. 
J  ay  me  and 
ir  h'lboi's  at 
f  the  native 
,  when  they 
iddenly  Jct't. 
nissionaries, 
hing  said  or 
piicli  a  tritit' 

th  to  rouse 
>d  thev  had 

was  but  a 

linost  every 
|him,  whose 
command 
II  nations." 
be  Indians 
the  apos- 
and  fort, 
[have  sunk 
)f  Noveni- 
ission  lav ; 


for  the  good  friars  liad  withdrawn  to  some  distance  from  the  fort, 
to  avoid  the  untoward  influence  always  exercised  by  a  band  of 
soldiere.      Here   the  liostile    army   divided,  one   party  marched 


affainst  the  fort,  the  other  entered  th 


ilh 


itry  at  the  d( 


of 


•h   1 


mission  > 

ITT'        ' 

louse,  pi'essed   on  to 


and  placing 
the  church. 


a  sentry  at  tne  uoor  oi  eacn  iiouse,  pressed  on  lo  tiie  ciiurcl 
whose  furniture  and  decorations  piomised  a  splendid  booty.  A 
part,  however,  turned  off  to  assail  the  house  occupied  by  the  mis- 
sionaries and  by  a  few  Spaniards,  and,  approaching  unobserved,  set 
it  on  fire.  Awakened  by  the  flames  and  yells,  the  soldiers  ran  to 
aims,  and,  with  Father  Vincent,  threw  themselves  into  an  adobe 
kitchen.  Father  Louis  Jayme,  awakened  by  the  noise,  and  totally 
unprepared  for  such  an  attack,  supposed  the  fire  accidental,  and 
issued  from  the  house  with  his  usual  salutation,  "  Love  God,  my 
children."  He  was  at  once  seized  by  the  Indians,  dragged  through 
the  deepest  part  of  the  neighboiing  stream,  stripped,  and  killed 
with  arrows  and  blows  from  their  swords  of  hardened  wood,  which 
cut  almost  like  iron.  When  found,  his  bodv  ^\rh  so  hacked  and 
mangled  as  to  defy  recognition — the  hands  alone  being  untouched. 

The  attack  on  the  kitchen  was  kept  up  till  daybreak,  when  the 
Indians,  fearing  a  charge  from  the  fort,  drew  ofl",  and  enabled 
Father  Vincent  and  his  companions  to  reach  that  place  of  refuge. 

This  was  a  tenible  check  to  the  missions ;  and  many  wished  to 
abandon  San  Diego  and  some  other  stations  entirely.  No  such 
thoughts,  however,  were  entertained  by  the  missionaries.  Words 
of  joy  welcomed  the  announcement  of  the  death  of  Jayme. 
"  Thank  God,  that  field  is  watered  !"  exclaimed  the  intrepid  Pre- 
fect Serra,  as  he  proceeded,  though  in  broken  health,  lo  roiise  the 
civil  authorities  to  courage.  But  the  letters  he  obtained  from  the 
latter  miscanied,  and  when,  in  September,  he  attempted  to  rebuild 
the  mission  of  San  Diego,  Rivera,  the  commandant,  ordered  him 
to  desist.  The  prefect  obeyed  without  a  munnur,  but  a  change 
of  authorities  soon  en.abled  him  to  realize  his  plan,  and  San  Diego 
arose  from  its  ruins.     As  soon  as  he  saw  it  in  progress  he  hurried, 

5 


i 


98 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


h 


witli  Fathers  Mugartei^ui  and  i\imirro  to  San  Capistrano.  Here 
he  found  the  cross  still  standing;  and  this  admirable  man,  un- 
broken by  toil,  undaunted  by  danger,  hastened,  almost  alone, 
amid  hostile  tribes,  to  San  Gabriel,  to  obtain  the  necessary  ar- 
ticles. 

This  last  mission  is  situated  in  a  beautiful  plain,  a  league  from 
the  sea,  on  the  banks  of  a  little  riv^er  which  never  fails,  even  in  the 
greatest  drought.  The  people,  among  whom  it  was  established, 
were  called  the  Acagchemem  nation,  and  of  them  we  have,  in  a 
work  of  Father  Boscana,  a  later  missionary,  a  fuller  account  than 
we  possass  of  any  other  tribe  in  California. 

No  portion  of  the  continent  contained  in  the  same  compass  tribes 
so  variant  in  language,  and,  consequently,  in  race.  As  may  be 
seen  by  the  examples  we  have  given,  little  analogy  exists  be- 
tween the  various  dialects,  and  several  are  of  distinct  radical 
languages. 

All  the  Californian  tribes  resemble,  in  general  manners  and  cus- 
toms, the  Indians  of  other  parts  of  the  republic.  Ignorant  of  the 
use  of  metals,  they  relied  on  hunting  and  fishing  for  a  sustenance : 
agriculture,  even  in  its  rudest  form,  being  almost  unknown,  and 
seeds  and  herbs  the  only  production  used  by  them.  The  men  went 
naked,  or  wore  a  cloak  of  skins  over  the  shoulders :  the  women, 
and  even  the  youngest  female  children,  wore  a  kind  of  apron  of 
fringe,  and  were  never  known  to  lay  aside  this  badge  of  modesty ; 
many,  too,  wore  a  kind  of  cloak  reaching  from  the  neck  to  the 
knees.  The  most  advanced  tribes  were  those  between  Santa  Bar- 
bara and  Monterey ;  these  Indians  were  skilful  fishermen,  and 
showed  great  dexterity  in  the  use  of  their  well-made  canoes,  and 
in  a  money  made  of  shells,  like  the  wampum  of  the  eastern  tribes, 
carried  on  a  thriving  commerce.* 

The  tribe  among  whom  the  mission  of  San  Juan  Capistrano  was 


*  BoRcana  in  Kobinson,  240. 


\, 


SPANISH   MISSIONS. 


99 


founded,  were  the  Acagclieniem.  Tlioir  religious  ideas  are  easily 
described.  Considerinj;  Heaven  and  Earth  as  the  tirst  ot"  beiuijfs, 
they  })eopled  the  universe  with  a  monster  j)rofjeny,  >vhieli  issued 
from  them,  and  which  disappeared  before  Chiniijchinich,  "  the 
Almiirhtv,"  who  created  man  and  the  animals.  This  belnij  was 
the  object  of  their  worship.  To  him  they  raised  temples  or  van- 
queeh,  and  in  it  placed  the  skin  of  a  coyote,  or  wild-cat,  filled  with 
feathers,  claws,  horns,  and  similar  parts  of  various  birds  and  beasts. 
The  woi-ship,  directed  by  priests  or  puplem,  consisted  of  various 
dances  and  ceremonies,  in  which  little  trace  of  sacrifice  can  be 
discovered. 

Their  belief  in  witchcraft,  their  medicine-men  and  juGfglery,  their 
various  dances,  are,  in  the  main,  such  as  are  found  in  almost  eveiy 
American  tribe.* 

Having  established  anew  the  mission  of  San  Juan  Capistrano, 
the  active  Serra  projected  that  of  San  Francisco.  An  expedition 
had  been  sent  from  Sonora  by  land  to  commence  a  settlement  at 
that  bay,  and  was  attended  by  Father  Font  as  chaplain.  Fathers 
]*alou  and  Cambon  joined  it,  as  missionaries,  to  found  a  station  at 
the  new  settlement,  and  Fathei"s  Murguia  and  Pena  to  begin  an- 
other mission,  under  the  patronage  of  Santa  Clara,  in  its  vicinity. 

The  mission  of  San  Francisco  was  really  inaugurated  in  a  rustic 
chapel,  on  the  2'7th  of  June,  1Y76,  and  the  country  around  that 
beautiful  bay  explored  by  the  intrepid  missionaries.  The  legal  or- 
ganization of  the  missions  was  delayed  by  the  inactivity  of  the 
commandant  Rivera,  to  whom  they  were  obliged  to  recur  for  sup- 
plies and  for  the  usual  guard.     Santa  Clara  was  in  consequence 


trano  was 


*  Boscana.  Indians  of  Alta  California,  in  Robinson,  237,  &c.  The  Lord's 
Prayer  in  their  langnnjore  is  as  follows :  "  Chana  ech  tiipana  nvc  onech, 
otnne  a  cuachin,  chame  om  reino  libi  yb  chosonec  esna  tiipana  chain  nechc- 
tepc,  micatc  torn  cha  chaom,  pepsum  yg  car  caychamo  y  i  julupcalmo 
cai  ech.  Depupnnopco  chamo  chum  oyote.  Amen."  Duflot  de  Mofras, 
ii.  894. 


100 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


not  begun  till  the  Cth  of  January,  1*777,  when  tliat  mission  arose 
on  the  cliarming  plains  of  San  ]3ernardino.* 

The  missions  thus  established  in  Upper  California  dif!ered  cssen 
tially  from  those  planted  in  the  other  sections  of  our  republic. 
Here  it  wjus  not  a  single  missionary,  ventui-ing  alone  into  a  distant 
land,  facing  eveiy  danger  from  the  elements,  the  wild  beasts,  or  the 
untamed  child  of  the  forest :  the  missionary  went  to  his  station 
attended  by  a  small  guaid,  with  a  colony  of  Indian  converts,  herds 
of  cattle,  and  a  plentiful  supply  of  agiicultural  and  other  imple- 
ments. Around  this  nucleus  of  converted  IndiaiLs,  others  soon 
gathered:  buildings  were  erected,  the  new-comers  formed  to 
habits  of  industry,  and  instructed  in  the  doctrines  of  Christianity. 
As  many  of  the  missionaries  were  ingenious  in  mechanical  arts,  the 
Indians  were  formed  to  every  trade,  and  each  mission  yearly  sent 
off  its  cargoes  of  surplus  products  and  manufactures,  to  receive  in 
return  the  necessary  European  goods.  This  prosperity  constantly 
attracted  new-comers,  who  were  in  time  trained  to  the  life  of  the 
mission.  The  wealth  of  these  missions,  a  few  years  since,  shows 
how  great  the  progress  of  the  Indians  had  been. 

Father  Serra,  the  Prefect  Apostolic,  had  now  founded  a  goodly 
number  of  missions,  which  began  to  bear  fruit.  Baptisms  had  be- 
come numerous ;  the  new  converts  had  swelled  the  village  at  each 
mission,  and  peace,  order,  and  prosperity  had  begun  their  reign. 
That  the  neophytes  might  not  be  deprived  of  the  sacrament  of  con- 
finnation,  the  Holy  See,  on  the  16th  of  June,  1774,  issued  a  bull 
conferring  on  the  Prefect  Apostohc  the  power  of  administering  it, 
and  tliis  privilege  he  exercised,  though  for  a  time  prevented  by 
government  from  doing  so. 

Under  his  care  the  missions  henceforth  grew  and  prospered  :  the 
only  affliction  they  suffered  being  the  loss  of  the  veteran  Father 


*  In  tlie  language  at  Santa  Clara  tlio  Our  Father  runs  thus :  "  Appa  ma- 
crcne  me  saura  snraahtiga,"  &c.     Duflot  de  Mofras,  11.  392. 


SPANISH   MISSIONS. 


101 


sion  arose 

■red  essen 
republic. 
I  a  distant 
ists,  or  the 
[lis  station 
eils,  herds 
ler  imple- 
hers  soon 
urmed  to 
iristianity. 
il  arts,  the 
early  sent 
receive  in 
constantly 
life  of  the 
loe,  shows 

a  goodly 
is  bad  be- 
[e  at  each 

(ir  reign. 

it  of  con- 
led  a  bull 

^tering  it, 

inted  by 

Ired :  the 
Father 


ippa  ma- 


I 


Crespi,  who  died  at  Monterey  on  the  first  of  Jaiiuaiy,  1782,  after 
a  missionary  cj'.reer  of  thirty  years,  fourteen  of  which  had  been 
spent  in  Cal.i'ornia.* 

But  if  prosperity  and  success  smiled  on  the  missions  from  San 
Diego  to  San  Francisco,  the  same  cannot  be  said  of  a  new  mission 
attempted  about  this  time.  The  power  exercised  by  the  missiona- 
ries over  the  converted  Indians  in  the  reductions,  the  management 
of  the  property,  which  they  kept  in  their  own  liands,  and  the  kind 
of  tutelage  in  which  the  new  Christians  were  held,  liad  drawn  great 
odium  on  the  Jesuits.  The  Franciscans,  nevertheless,  had  con- 
tinued the  system,  being  convinced  of  its  expediency.  Not  so  the 
government,  which  wished  to  justify  its  charges  against  the  sup- 
pressed order.  A  new  mission  was  therefore  to  be  formed,  in  which 
the  Fathere  were  to  confine  their  laboi-s  to  the  spiritual  instruction 
of  the  Indians,  leaving  their  civilization  and  temjK)ral  advancement 
in  the  hands  of  those  whom  interest,  zeal,  or  ambition  might  in- 
duce to  attempt  it.  Four  missionaries  from  the  Franciscan  college 
of  the  Holy  Cross  of  Queretaro  accordingly  joined  the  captain- 
general,  Theodore  de  Croix,  and  by  his  ordei's  founded  two  missions 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Colorado  above  its  mouth  :  one  under  the 
invocation  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  the  other  three  leagues  fur''>er 
south,  under  that  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  and  both  intended 
for  the  conversion  of  the  Yumas,  wlio  were  the  nearest  tiibe. 

Matters  went  on  slowly;  the  soldiers,  as  colonists,  chose  the 
fairest  lands,  and  the  ejected  Indians,  deprived  of  their  crops,  be- 
gan ere  long  to  covet  the  flocks  of  the  invaders.  The  missionaries, 
whose  duty  led  them  daily  to  the  villages  of  the  Yumas,  saw"  the 
danger,  and  in  vain  endeavored  to  excite  their  countrymen  to 
measures  of  conciliation.  Vengeance  was  not  Ions:  delaved.  One 
Sunday  in  July,  after  mass,  the  Indians,  to  the  number  of  several 
thousands,  simultaneously  attacked  both  missions,  set  fire  to  thera, 


*  Pttloii,  Kelacion,  239. 


102 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


and  killed  Rivera,  tlie  commander,  and  his  soldiers,  with  most  of 
the  settlers.  The  missionaries  hurried  around  to  exercise  their 
ministry,  confessing,  exhorting,  encouraging,  till  they  too  were  cut 
down.  The  four  missionaries  who  |Xirished  hero  were  Father  John 
Diaz  and  Father  Matthew  Morena,  whose  bodies  were  found  amid 
the  mins  of  their  mission,  and  Father  Francisco  Crarces  and  John 
liarraneche,  of  the  province  of  Florida,  whose  bodies,  interred  by 
an  old  woman,  were  recovered  some  time  after.  Of  these,  Father 
Garces  deserves  especial  notice  as  a  successful  and  adventurous 
missioner,  who  had  extended  liis  excursions  to  Upper  California, 
and  traveled  much  of  the  country  north  of  the  Colorado,  so  that, 
adapting  himself  to  Indian  life,  he  had  become  as  one  of  the  na- 
tives. Yet  loved  as  he  was,  the  Yumas  did  not  spare  him  in  the 
general  massacre.* 

The  missions  already  founded  did  not  satisfy  the  boundless  zeal 
of  the  prefect,  the  venerable  Serra.  lie  died  in  1784,  planning 
new  foundations,  and  still  eager  to  plant  the  cross  in  parts  as  yet 
unvisited.  Ten  missions  were  already  established,  and  about  ten 
thousand  Indians  had  been  baptized.  Among  the  enterprising  men 
who  have  attempted  the  conversion  of  the  Indians,  few  deserve  a 
higher  place  than  Father  Juniper  Serra.  Nothing  is  more  admira- 
ble than  the  courage  he  displayed  in  the  effort  to  civilize  the  bar- 
barous tiibes,  amid  whom  his  charity  had  cilled  him.  If  he  had 
not  the  heroic  sanctity  of  earlier  missionaries,  liis  steady  develoj)- 
ment  of  the  Jesuit  plan  of  missions,  his  constant  attention,  assiduous 
labor,  and  prudence  in  government,  often  amid  factious  opposition, 
entitle  him  to  the  highest  place  among  illustrious  missionaries.    Nor 


*  Pnlou,  Eolacion,  &c.,  240-8.  Noticias  de  la  provincia  de  las  Californias, 
aim.  1780.  Cronioa  Apostolica  del  Colegio  de  la  Santa  Cruz  de  Qiicretaro. 
Mexico,  1780,  vol.  i.  cited  by  Duflot  do  Mofras,  i.  283. 

F.  Garces  had  accompanied  F.  Font  from  Oreasitas  to  Monterey  in  177">, 
and  with  lilni  first  drow  attention  to  tlio  Casas  Graudcs.  Their  journal  and 
maj)  have  been  frci[iicntlv  eite>l. 


lip 


SPANISH   MISSIONS. 


103 


I  most  of 
;ise  tlu'ir 
were  cut 
lier  John 
iiid  iiini<i 
iml  Jul  111 
terred  by 
a,  Father 
'enturous 
iahfornia, 
>,  so  that, 
f  the  na- 
m  iu  the 

Hess  zeal 
phinning 
ts  as  yet 
bout  ten 
ing  men 
eserve  a 
admira- 
|the  bar- 
he  had 
evelo})- 
iduous 
osition, 
s.    Nor 


tfornias, 
Icretaro. 

In  irr.-', 

Inul  nii<l 


I 
.1 


\vas  lie  wanting  in  deep  and  tender  piety.  When  .in  Indian  child 
that  he  wjis  about  to  baptize  was  taken  from  his  arms,  he  was 
deeply  moved.  "  The  feelings  of  the  venerable  Father,  seeing  the 
l)aj)tism  of  this  child  so  frustrated,  were  such,"  says  Palou,  "  that  for 
many  days  the  sorrow  and  pain  which  he  suft'ered  might  be  dis- 
covered in  his  countenance, — the  good  Father  attributing  the  con- 
<luct  of  the  Indians  to  his  own  sins ;  and  many  years  afterwards, 
when  he  related  this  circumstance,  his  eyes  were  suffused  with 
tears."  His  death  was  as  calm  as  his  life.  Sinking  under  a  maladv 
of  the  lungs,  he  continued  his  labors,  visiting  the  missions,  admin- 
istering confirmation,  and  regulating  every  thing,  till,  finding 
his  death  at  hand,  he  sent  for  the  nearest  Fathers  to  come  and  take 
leave  of  him.  In  August  he  sank  gi'adually,  but  still  kept  up  and 
recited  his  office,  though  preparing  to  die.  On  the  27th  of  that 
month  he  directed  Father  Palou  to  consecrate  a  host,  and  give  him 
the  holy  viaticum.  In  the  course  of  the  same  day  he  ordered  his^ 
coffin,  and  received  the  sacrament  of  extreme  unction  on  his  bed, 
— a  mat  stretched  over  a  board.  The  next  day,  August  28,  1*784, 
he  was  up  again  and  cheerful,  but  presently  retiring  to  his  hard 
couch,  lay  down  and  expired  without  a  struggle  or  a  sigh,  at  the 
age  of  Vl.* 

*  Palou,  Relacion  IIist(  rica  dc  la  Vida  del  V.  P.  Junipcro  Serra:  Mexico, 

1787. 


^m! 


CHAPTER    VII. 

CALIFORNIA    MISSION (CONTINUED.) 

Father  Paloii,  Prefect  Apostolic— Skoteh  of  n  Californin  mission— Missions  of  Santa  Bar- 
bara, Santa  Cruz,  and  Soledad  founded— Father  Lazven  rrefoct— Missions  founded  in 
his  time— State  of  mission  during  the  civil  war— Tlic  republic— It  plunders  the  mis- 
sions, and  expels  the  Fathers — Ilapld  decline  of  the  missions — California  taken  by  tho 
Americans— Close  of  the  missions, 

()s  the  dcjith  of  Fatlier  Sen-a,  liis  future  biographer,  Father 
Palou,  was  aj>pointed  Prefect  Apostolic  ;  but  before  we  enter  on  the 
history  of  Ins  administration,  we  shall  describe  these  missions  as 
they  then  existed,  for  though  the  California  mission  began  about 
the  peiiod  of  the  American  revolution,  and  attained  a  wonderful 
degree  of  prosperity,  it  is  now  as  much  a  matter  of  the  past,  as  the 
Iroquois  or  Huron  missions  in  the  north. 

A  rectangular  building,  eighty  or  ninety  yards  in  front,  and 
about  as  deep,  composed  the  mission.  In  one  end  was  the  church 
and  parsonage.  The  interior  Avas  a  large  and  beautiful  court, 
adorned  with  trees  and  fountains,  surrounded  by  galleries,  on 
which  opened  the  rooms  of  the  missionaries,  stewards,  and  trav- 
ellers, the  shops,  schools,  store-rooms  &c.,  and  gi'anary.  A  part, 
separated  off,  and  called  the  monastery,  was  reserved  for  the  Indian 
girls,  where  they  were  taught  by  native  women  to  spin  and  weave, 
and  received  such  ,other  instruction  as  was  suited  to  their  sex.* 
The  boys  leanied  trades,  and  those  wlio  excelled  were  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  chiefs,  thus  giving  a  dignity  to  labor  which  imj^elled  all 
to  embrace  it. 

Each  mission  was  directed  by  two  friars :  one  of  whom  super- 
intended this  mission-building  and  the  religious  instruction ;  the 

*  See  tlie  plan  of  the  inissioii  of  Sua  Luis  Key  in  Duflot. 


I 


>f  Santa  Bnr- 
s  founded  in 
Icrs  the  mis- 
iiken  by  the 


;r,  Father 
xjr  on  the 
issions  as 
pm  about 
>vondei'ful 
Eist,  as  the 

out,  and 
church 
il  court, 
|eries,  on 
Ind  trav- 
A  part, 
I  Indian 
weave, 
'ir  sex.* 
loted  to 
}lled  all 


super- 
)n:  the 


SPANISH    MISSIONS. 


105 


other  the  tiekl-lahors,  in  which  he  always  took  part,  tciching 
consilio  iiianu(j[Ui\  to  use  their  own  expression, — hy  advice  and 
example.  How  well  they  suc(;eeded  we  may  judp*  by  the  results 
which  they  obtained,  and  by  the  ati'ection  of  the  Indians.  Those 
who,  but  a  tew  years  since,  visited  these  missions,  wer«'  amazed  to 
see  that  with  such  petty  resources,  most  frequently  without  the  aid 
uf  the  white  mechanics,  with  Indian  workmen  alone,  they  accom- 
|»lished  so  much,  not  only  in  agriculture,  but  in  architecture  and 
mechanics — in  mills,  macliines,  bridiijes,  roads,  canals  for  irriga- 
tion— and  accomj)lished  it  only  by  transforming  hostile  and  indolent 
savages  into  laborious  car})enters,  masons,  coopers,  saddlere,  shoe- 
makei's,  weavei's,  stone-cutters,  brick-makers,  and  lime-burnei"s.* 

The  discipline  was  indeed  severe,  and  the  whole  establishment 
conducted  like  some  large  tactoiy.  This  has  excited,  in  motlern 
times,  great  outcry ;  but  the  missions  have-  been  abolished,  and  the 
Indians  left  to  the  "  enlightened  "  men  of  our  dav.  Under  their 
care  tlie  Indians  have  perished  like  smoke  before  the  wind,  and 
men  now  sigh  for  the  missions.f 


*  Duflot  de  Mofras,  Exploration  do  I'Oregon,  Ics  Californles,  &c.  i.  261 ; 
Robinson,  Lite  in  California,  24. 

+  Hear  the  sigha  of  Bartlett,  the  United  States  commissioner :  "  Five  thou- 
sand Indians  were  at  one  time  collected  at  the  mission  of  St.  Gabriel.  They 
are  represented  to  have  been  sober  and  industrious,  well  clothed  and  fed; 
and  seem  to  have  experienced  as  high  a  state  of  happiness  as  they  are  adapted 
by  nature  to  receive. 

"  These  five  thousand  Indians  constituted  a  largo  family,  of  which  the  padres 
were  the  social,  religious,  and  we  might  also  say  political  heads. 

"  Living  thus,  this  vile  and  degraded  race  began  to  learn  sorne  of  the  fundu- 
mcntal  principles  of  civilized  life.  The  institution  of  marriage  began  to  be 
respected  and  blessed  by  the  rites  of  religion,  grew  to  be  so  much  considered, 
that  deviations  from  its  duties  were  somewhat  unfreqnent  occurrences.  The 
girls,  on  their  arrival  at  the  age  of  puberty,  were  separated  from  the  rest  of 
the  population,  and  taught  the  useful  arts  of  sewing,  weaving,  carding,  &c., 
and  were  only  permitted  to  mingle  with  the  population  when  they  had  as- 
sumed the  character  of  wives. 

"  ^Vhen,  at  present,  we  look  around  and  behold  the  state  of  the  Indians  in 
this  country — when  we  see  their  women  degraded  into  a  scale  of  life  too 

•-  ^k 


106 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


I' 


Ft 


Around  tlie  mission-buildiiiin^  rose  tho  housc^s  of  the  Indians,  and 
of  a  few  wliite  settlors :  at  various  distances  were  ranches  or 
liamlets,  each  with  its  succursal  chapel.  In  a  little  building  by 
the  mission  was  a  picket  of  tive  horsemen,  half  soldiers,  half 
couners. 

The  roffulations  of  tho  missions  were  uniform.  At  daybreak  the 
angelus  summoned  all  to  the  church  for  prayei-s  and  mass,  from 
wliich  they  returned  to  breakfast.  Tlien  all  joined  tlieir  res})ective 
bands,  and  proceeded  to  their  regular  labor.  At  eleven  they  re- 
turned to  dine,  and  rested  till  two,  when  labor  recommenced  and 
lasted  till  the  angelus,  which  was  rung  an  hour  before  sunset. 
After  prayers  and  the  beads,  they  supped  and  spent  the  evening  in 
innocent  amusements.  Their  food  was  the  fresh  beef  and  mutton 
plentifully  supplied  by  their  Hocks,  cakes  of  wheat  and  Indian,  with 
peas,  beans,  and  sucli  other  vegetables  as  they  chose  to  raise. 

The  dress  of  the  men  was  a  shirt,  trowsers,  and  blanket,  though 
the  alcalde  and  chiefs  of  gangs  of  workmen  wore  frequently  the 
complete  Spanish  dress.  The  dress  of  the  women  was  the  usual 
one,  with  the  invariable  blanket.  When  the  crops  were  harvest- 
ed, each  mission  sold  or  shipped  its  breadstufts,  wine,  oil,  hemj) 
and  cordage,  liides  and  tallow,  and  from  the  returns  distributed 
to  the  Indians  clothes,  handkerchiefs,  tobacco,  and  other  articles. 
The  surplus  was  spent  in  the  purchase  of  necessaries  for  the  mis- 
won,  furniture  for  the  church  or  the  houses,  implements  of  agri- 
culture, tools,  &c. 

Besides  the  funds  thus  resulting  from  their  own  labors,  the  In- 
dians enjoyed  the  revenue  of  a  portion  of  the  "  Pious  fund," 

menial  to  be  even  domestics — ^whcn  we  behold  their  men  brutalized  by 
drink,  incapable  of  work,  and  following  a  system  of  petty  thievery  for  a  liv- 
ing, humanity  cannot  refrain  from  wishing  that  the  dilapidated  mission  of 
San  Gabriel  should  be  renovated,  its  broken  walls  be  rebuilt,  its  roofless 
houses  be  covered,  and  its  deserted  halls  be  again  filled  with  its  ancient  in- 
dustrious, happy,  and  contented  original  population." — BartUW a  Personal 
Narrative,  ii.  84. 


SPANISH    MISSIONS. 


107 


inis,  and 
iches  or 
(ling  by 
BIS,  halt' 

re.ik  tlic 
iss,  iron  I 
'S|x»ctive 
they  re- 
ced  and 
J  sunsc't. 
eniiig  in 

mutton 
ian,  with 
lise. 
;,  though 

ntly  the 
he  usual 

harvest- 

il,  hemp 
itributcd 

articles. 

;he  mis- 

of  agri- 

the  In- 
fund," 

lilized  by 
for  a  liv- 
lission  of 

roofless 
Icient  in- 

''ersonal 


which  had  been  bestowed  by  charitable  iiei-sons  on  the  old  Jesuit 
mission  :  the  missionaries,  bound  by  vows  of  poverty,  i-eceiving 
omy  food  and  clothing. 

The  Indians  of  a  mission  were  not  all  of  the  same  tribe,  but 
perfect  harmony  prevailed,  and  when  the  sea.son  of  work  was  over, 
numy  {)aid  visits  to  their  countiymen,  and  seldom  returned  alone. 
Sometimes  a  zealous  Chiistiau  would  nsit  liis  own  tribe  as  an 
ajiostlo,  to  announce  the  happiness  enjoyed  wider  the  mild  rule  of 
tlh'  g<xspel.  In  this  way  the  missions  constantly  received  new 
accessions,  for  the  good  fiiars  had  the  art  of  making  labor  at- 
iractivo. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  Father  Palou  was  to  found  the  mission 
of  Santa  Barbara,  which  was  begim  on  the  4th  of  December,  1786, 
at  the  foot  of  a  chain  of  arid  mountains.  This  was  followed  on 
the  8th  of  December,  178V,  by  that  of  La  Turisima  Concepcion, 
separated  from  that  of  San  Luis  Obispo  by  a  beautiful  and  fertile 
l»lain.  Soon  after,  in  1791,  the  mission  of  Santa  Cruz,  near  Bran- 
ciforte,  was  founded  in  August,  and  that  of  Nuestra  Senora  de  la 
Soledad  in  October,  in  a  delightful  canon,  which  extends  to  Mon- 
terey. These  were  the  last  acts  of  Father  Palou's  administration  ; 
for  it  is  said  that  he  then  left  California,  and  became  Superior  of 
the  convent  of  San  Fernando,  in  the  city  of  Mexico.* 

Under  Father  Lazven,  who  was  the  next  prefect,  the  California 
mission  received  still  greater  development.  In  the  single  year 
IVOV  he  founded  three  missions — San  Jos6,  San  Miguel,  and  San 
Fernando  Rey.  The  first,  which  dates  from  the  18th  of  June,  is 
at  the  foot  of  a  range  of  low  hills,  along  which  runs  the  San  Joa- 
quin. Its  proximity  to  the  Tulares,  enabled  this  mission  to  collect 
a  great  number  of  Indians,  and  it  was  soon  one  of  the  most  flour- 
ishing and  commercial  in  all  California. 

San  Miguel  arose  on  the  25th  of  July,  in  a  beautiful  plain,  into 


*  Forbes'  CaUfomia,  80. 


I 


108 


AMKKICAN   CATJIOLIC   MISSIONS. 


which  several  mountain  gorjc^os  enter,  giving  easy  access  to  other 
missions,  wiiile  San  Fernando,  tuun«le«l  on  the  teaxt  of  the  Nativity 
of  the  Jiiessed  Virgin,  lay  nearer  San  (Jahiicl.  All  these  missions 
soon  attained  a  high  <l«'gr«'t!  of  prosperity. 

The  next  mission  \\u.s  that  of  San  Luis  Key  de  Francia,  which 
arose  in  the  wilderness  at  a  time  when  France  rejected  alike  the 
faith,  institutions,  and  family  of  that  holy  king.  Its  founder,  the 
illustrious  Father  Peyii,  raised  a  thatched  cottage  hy  the  beautiful 
hanks  of  the  San  Luis  on  the  feast  of  his  patron.  Saint  Anthony  of 
Padua,  in  the  year  1798.  A  few  cattle  and  some  converted  Indians 
were  all  that  ho  asked  from  the  next  mission,  and  thus  he  founded 
San  Luis  Key  among  the  Kechis.  From  this  feeble  conmience- 
ment  rose  the  greatest  of  the  Californiau  reductions,  as  English, 
French,  and  American  writers  all  concur  in  asserting.  Its  church 
of  stone  is  ninety  feet  deep,  and  rises  at  one  end  in  a  beautiful 
tower  and  dome ;  and  from  its  fagado  extends  a  colonnade,  not 
without  architectural  beauty,  and  nearly  five  hundred  feet  long, 
while  in  depth  it  is  almost  of  equal  dimensions.  Father  Peyri 
was  not  only  an  architect,  but  also  an  able  mission-director,  lie 
soon  had  3500  Indian  converts,  scattered  in  twenty  ranches,  and 
the  whole  place  boro  marks  of  industry,  and  consequently  of  peace 
and  plenty. 

Sj^ain  now  began  to  reel  under  the  effects  of  the  French  revolu- 
tion ;  and  the  distracted  state  of  the  mother  country  and  the  col- 
onies materially  affected  the  missions,  which  were  in  a  great  meas- 
ure left  to  their  own  resources.  For  several  years  their  funds  came 
very  iiTegularly,  but  the  Indians,  who  relied  chiefly  on  their  own 
labor,  suffered  no  loss,  and  the  only  difficulty  was  that  new  mis- 
sions could  not  bo  undertaken  ;  and  the  weakness  of  the  govern- 
ment seemed  to  offer  an  opportunity  to  the  savage  tribes  to  burst 
on  these  frontier  stations. 

Amid  this  period  of  trial  Father  Lazven  died  in  1803,  at  his 
mission,  of  Carmel,  where  he  was  interred.    His  successor  found- 


Si'ANLSlI   MISSIONS. 


109 


to  other 
Nativity 
inisHions 

I,  wliit'h 
iliko  the 
ider,  the 
Denutitul 
thonv  of 
I  [ndiniiH 
founded 
nnience- 
EiigHsh, 
s  church 
beautiful 
lade,  not 
ct  long, 
er  I'evri 
or.  lie 
les,  and 
|of  peace 

revolu- 
the  col- 
meas- 
is  came 
lir  own 
Iw  mis- 
jrovern- 
burst 

I  at  his 
found- 


ed the  mission  of  Santa  Inez  in  tin-  followirig  year,  on  a  beautiful 
i.raiiie,  embosomed  in  the  hills,  a  lu-rft'ct  garden  of  fertility.*  In 
|H17  tlu'  Mii-^^ionarit's  n-suined  their  activity,  and  Kather  Ventura 
KortiMii  toimded  th*'  mission  of  San  iial'at'l  am(»iig  the  .btuskious- 
iiio,  iind  the  |»rcte(rt,  Father  Mariano  I'ayeras,  proposecl  to  the 
SpMniNli  king  to  estabhsh  a  jir»'sidio  at  Telamt',  and  missions  lun- 
iiiiig  in  a  line  from  San  i-.uis  lli'v  to  San  Jose,  but  the  |>ow»'r  of 
Sj)ain  in  the  western  world  was  alreaily  tt)ttering,  and  the  ])roject 
was  aban<loned.| 

Left  to  their  own  resources,  the  missionaries  did  not  falter: 
they  steadily  advanced  the  faith;  and  in  August,  1823,  Kather 
Amoros  began  the  mission  of  San  Francisco  Solano  among  the 
(Juilucos,  the  most  northerly  and  last  of  all  those  n-ligious  estab- 
lishments which  now  lie  in  ruins,  and  the  oidy  one  that  dates  from 
the  period  of  the  Mexican  republic.  The  same  Father  did,  indeed, 
attempt  another  in  18'J7,  but  the  little  chapel  of  Saint  Kose  was 
all  that  he  could  accomplish.J 

Echandia,  the  first  governor  sent  by  the  Mexican  republic  to 
California,  arrived  in  1824.  A  countryman  of  ours  calls  him 
"  the  scourge  of  California,  an  instigator  of  vice,  who  sowed  seeds 
of  dishonor  not  to  be  extirpated,  while  a  mission  remains  to  be 
robbed."§  One  of  his  fii-st  acts  was  to  interfere  in  the  established 
plan  of  the  missions,  and  attempt  to  take  all  temporal  direction  from 
the  missionanes.    The  latter  opposed  this  invasion  of  the  rights  of 

*  Duflot  do  Mofras,  Exploration,  i.  359,  877,  383,  418. 
t  M.  384.     As  a  specimen  of  the  languages  of  these  missions,  we  give  the 
initial  words  of  the  Our  Father  in  each  : 

1.  San  Fernando Y  yorac  yona  taray  tucupuma,  &c. 

2.  San  Gabriel Y  yonac  y  yogin  tucupiagnacsa,  «fec. 

8.  San  Eafael,  Jouskiousme. . .  Api  inaco  sa  liletomanenas,  «fec.  t 

4.  Chocouyem  . . . ,  Api  maco  su  lileco  nian^naa,  &c. 

5.  San  F.  Solano,  Guilucos. . . .  Alia  igame  niutry  o  cuse  mi  znhna. 

6.  San  Luis  Eey,  Kechi Cham  na  cham  migtupanga  auconan. 

7.  Santa  Inez Dios  caquicoeo  upalequen  alapa. 

t  Id.  445-447.  §  Robinson,  Life  in  California,  141. 


Jt^^ 


no 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


tlieir  Indians,  who  they  clearly  foresaw  were  doomed  to  destruc- 
tion, if  left  to  the  mercy  of  the  agents  of  government.  Echandia 
persisted  in  his  plan  of  pillage,  drove  out  the  fearless  Martinez, 
and  loaded  with  ill  treatment  Father  Sanchez,  the  prefect  or  pres- 
ident of  the  missions,  so  that  the  venerable  man,  after  struggling 
for  years  against  the  oppressors  of  his  forest  children,  died  of 
grief  in  1831,  consoled  in  his  last  moments  by  the  conduct  of  the 
u[)right  Don  Manuel  Victoria,  who  for  u  few  months  restored  the 
missions.*  ]5ut  that  excellent  governor  was  soon  removed,  and 
the  plunder  recommenced.  Father  Antonio  Peyri,  a  man  of  energy 
and  capacity,  and  though  advanced  in  years,  still  hale,  and  able 
to  maintain  his  rights,  became  peculiarly  obnoxious.  He  was 
driven  from  his  mission  of  San  Luis  Key,  which  he  had  founded 
and  directed  with  admirable  skill  for  thirty-four  years.  The  en- 
treaties and  tears  of  his  neophytes  could  not  obtain  his  continu- 
ance, and  as  he  tore  himself  from  his  flock,  to  embark  for  Mexico, 
tears  streamed  down  his  aged  cheeks.  For  years  after  the  Indians 
preserved  a  painting,  which  represented  Father  Peyri  amid  his 
neophytes,  and  frequently  came  to  recite  their  prayers  before  that 
effigy  of  him  who  had  fii*st  led  them  to  a  knowledge  of  God,  and 
when  he  finally  proceeded  to  Barcelona,  eveiy  stranger  was  eagerly 
questioned  for  tidings  of  their  beloved  guide,  and  heard  them  speak 
with  sighs  of  their  happy  state,  when  directed  by  his  paternal  hand. 
Such  is  the  testimony  of  Forbes  and  Robinson  in  1835,  of  Duflot 
de  Mofras  in  1840,  and  even  of  Bartlett  in  1852.f 


^i 


*  Duflot  de  Mofras,  Exploration,  i.  272. 

t  Id.  343  ;  Robinson,  19-108;  Bartlett,  Personal  Narrative,  ii.  92.  Father 
Antonio  Peyri  was  born  in  Catalonia  in  1765,  and  must  have  entered  the 
Franciscan  order  at  an  early  age,  as  he  was  but  little  over  thirty  when  he 
founded  his  celebrated  mission.  When  ho  left  it,  San  Luis  Key  contained 
a  population  of  3000,  many  of  whom  were  blacksmiths,  carpenters,  and  me- 
chanics of  other  trades.  They  possessed  sixty  thousand  head  of  cattle,  and 
raised  thirteen  thousand  bushels  of  grain  a  year.  After  spending  a  short 
time  at  a  convent  of  his  order  in  Mexico,  lie  returned  to  hia  native  country. 


\\m\ 


SPANISH   MISSIONS. 


Ill 


tlestruc- 
Echandia 
Martinez, 
t  or  pres- 
triiggling 
,  died  of 
act  of  the 
itored  the 
oved,  and 
of  energy 
,  and  able 
He  was 
d  founded 
The  en- 
iS  continu- 
)r  Mexico, 
e  Indians 
amid  his 
efore  that 
God,  and 
18  eagerly 
lem  speak 
al  hand, 
.f  Duflot 


Father 

Itered  the 

when  he 

2ontaincd 

and  mc- 

ittlc,  and 

a  short 

country. 


At  San  Luis  Obispo,  Father  Martinez  liad  formed  his  flock  to 
industry :  they  wove  and  dyed  ordinaiy  cloth  and  fine  cotton  fab- 
rics, which  would  soon  have  made  them  a  prosperous  and  happy 
colon V,  even  amid  the  increasins:  whites,  but  lie  was  brutally 
expelled.  Five  other  Fathers  were  driven  from  other  missions, 
and  a  regular  system  of  robbery  commenced  :  ranch  after  ran(;h 
was  taken,  cattle  swept  off,  and  the  Indians,  seduced  from  their  la- 
bors by  Echandia  the  governor,  were  so  inflamed  against  the  mis- 
sionaries, that  they  attempted  to  kill  Father  Cabot  at  San  Miguel. 
At  the  view  of  this  misery,  several  other  Fathei's,  exposed  to  ill 
treatment  and  persecution,  resolved  to  leave  the  country,  where 
some  had  spent  thirty  and  forty  years  in  civilizing  the  Indians, 
and  raising  them  to  a  state  of  ease,  and  comfort,  and  plenty.  They 
departed  as  poor  as  they  had  lived,  for  they  lost  nothing  :  it  was 
their  neophytes  who  had  been  robbed.*  The  number  of  mis- 
sionaries was  now  so  reduced,  that  in  1833,  the  Mexican  govern- 
ment applied  to  the  college  of  Our  Lady  of  Guadalupe,  at  Zacate- 
cas,  and  obtained  ten  uiissionaries  for  California,  who  took  the 
richer  and  more  northerly  stations  ;f  and  Father  Duran,  who  had 
just  succeeded  F.  Francisco  Garcia  Diego  as  prefect,  removed  to 
Santa  Barbara,  after  being  for  a  time  imprisoned  on  a  frivolous 
charge.J 

*  Duflot  de  Mofras,  Exploration,  i.  275,  379;  Robinson,  12-")-81. 

t  Duflot  de  Mofras,  Exploration,  274;  Robinson's  Lite  in  California,  p.  150. 

X  Robinson,  159,  197.  While  the  inisaionarios  of  L'alifornia  were  thus  per- 
secuted, they  welcomed  the  persecuted  from  other  lands.  "  About  this  pe- 
riod, the  latter  pa.-t  of  January,  1832,"  says  Robinson  (p.  122),  "a  small  brig 
entered  the  desolate  bay  of  San  Pedro  and  anchored.  On  the  Rucccedin<; 
raorninsr,  two  passengers  were  landed  on  the  barren  strand,  and  there  left, 
with  two  bottles  of  water  and  one  biscuit,  and  nothing  to  protect  them  from 
the  inclemency  of  the  season.  Here,  more  than  thirty  miles  from  any  hab- 
itation, save  a  small  hut  two  leagues  oif,  they  passed  a  sleepless  night.  The 
casual  stroll  of  an  idle  Indian  in  search  of  shells,  was  the  means  of  giving 
information  to  the  Padre  at  St.  Gabriel,  where,  through  his  kindness  and 
sympathy,  they  found  a  cordial  welcome.  They  were  Messrs.  Bachelot  and 
Short,  two  Catholic  priests,  who,  in  consequence  of  their  unpopular  religion, 


112 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


lii 


B. 


b;l 


Meanwhile,  tlie  cfoveriinient  in  California  was  carrying  on  the 
work  of  secularization  or  plunder,  and  the  year  1834  may  be  con- 
sidered as  that  of  the  complete  overthrow  of  the  missions,  although 
it  was  not  till  1837  that  it  was  finally  and  olficially  decreed  by 
congi'ess.  But  this  act  of  congress  was  as  unnecessary  as  a  later 
one,  in  1840,  for  then  restoration  was  impossible  :  tlie  property  of 
the  poor  Indians  was  already  in  the  hands  of  the  plunderers,  and 
there  was  no  power  to  wrest  it  from  them. 

The  mission  of  St.  Gabriel  had  its  vineyards  planted  by  Father 
Jose  Maiia  Zalvidea,  which  already  produced  excellent  wine  :  ho 
was  negotiating  with  an  American  house  for  iron  fences.  All 
around  was  activity,  industiy,  and  enteiprise,  created  by  him  ;  for 
his  slilps,  loaded  with  the  products  of  the  mission,  sailed  regularly 
for  Lima  and  San  Bias  ;  but  neitlier  here  nor  at  San  Juan  Capis- 
trano,  also  under  liis  care,  could  he  prevent  the  spoliation.  His 
vineyards  were  torn  up,  and  in  a  short  time  misery  usurped  the 
place  of  plenty  and  industry.* 

At  this  period,  the  missions  contained  30,650  Indians,  424,000 
head  of  cattle,  62,500  horses,  321,500  sheep,  and  raised  annually 
122,500  bushels  of  wheat  and  maize.f  This  property  was  now 
handed  over  to  the  authorities,  who  allotted  some  to  each  familv. 
Here  and  there  a  missionary,  better  able  to  struggle  with  in- 
triguing men,  saved  the  mission  buildings  and  the  live-stock  given 
to  his  neophytes,  but  in  most  cases,  they  were  deprived  of  it  al- 
most immediately.  The  missionary  was  merely  allowed  rations 
for  his  support,  and  these  were  often  never  sent.     Thus,  in  1838, 


had  been  forced  to  leave  the  Sandwich  Islands,  notwithstanding  their  protes- 
tation against  tlie  arbitrary  measure.  All  remonstrances  were  useless  :  they 
were  insulted,  driven  on  board,  and  the  miserable  crafl  was  ordered  to  get 
under  way  without  delay." — Jiobinson,  159,  197.  For  an  English  account, 
Bee  "  Simpson's  Overland  Journey  around  the  World." 

■*  Duflot  de  Mofras,  Exploration  do  I'Oregon,  des  Californies,  (fee.  i.  350 ; 
liobinson,  28. 

+  Id.  i.  320. 


il  on  the 
y  be  con- 
,  altliough 
3crecd  bv 
as  a  later 
roperty  of 
erers,  and 

bv  Father 

ft/ 

wine :  ho 
ices.  All 
him ;  for 
regularly 
lan  Capis- 
:ion.  His 
urped  the 

t,  424,000 
annually 
was  now 
[h  family, 
with  in- 
►ck  given 
of  it  al- 
|d  rations 
[in  1838, 


leirprotes- 
less :  tlicy 
}ed  to  get 
account^ 

ic.  i.  350 ; 


SPANISH   MISSIONS. 


113 


I 


Father  Sarria,  of  whom  an  American  says,  "  it  wjis  a  happiness 
indeed  to  have  known  him,"  died  of  hunger  and  wretchedness  at 
his  mission  of  La  Soledad,  having  refused  to  abandon  his  constantly 
decreasing  flock.  Neither  his  age,  his  goodness,  his  charity,  n«jr 
gentle  character,  could  win  a  petty  living  on  tlie  spot  where  thou- 
sands had  enjoyed  his  hospitality.  One  day  in  August,  though 
worn  down  by  suffering  and  want,  he  gathered  his  flock  in  the 
church,  but  had  only  just  begun  the  nuiss  when  his  strength 
failed  him  :  he  fell  at  the  foot  of  the  altar,  and  exinred  in  the 
arms  of  those  Indians  whom  he  had  spent  thirty  years  in  instructing 
and  protecting.  Father  Fortuni,  the  founder  of  the  mission  of  San 
Rafiiel,  expired  soon  after.* 

Not  even  the  elevation  of  Father  Francisco  Garcia  Diego,  an 
old  California  mi&sionary,  to  the  episcopacy,  in  1840,  could  arrest 
the  work  of  sacrilege.  When  Duflot  de  Mofras  visited  the  missions 
in  1842,  several  of  the  niissions  were  entirely  closed,  the  Indians 
iiad  dwindled  down  from  30,000  to  4450,  their  cattle  from 
424,000  to  28,000,  and  their  other  stock  in  proportion.f  The 
mission  and  church  of  San  Diego  were  in  ruins,  and  the  mission- 
ary, F.  Vicente  Oliva,  had  but  one  little  farm  for  his  remaining 
five  hundred  Indians.  That  of  San  Juan  Capistrano  was  in  ruins 
too.  Amid  the  ruins  of  San  Gabriel  he  found  the  unbroken  Bis- 
cayan.  Father  Thomas  Estenega,  seated  in  a  field  before  a  large 
table,  with  his  sleeves  rolled  up,  kneading  clay,  and  teaching  liis 
Indians  to  make  bricks.  At  San  Fernando,  Santa  Clara,  and  at 
Santa  Inez,  the  missionaries  had  contrived  to  save  much.  St. 
Bonaventure,  Santa  Cruz,  San  Juan  ]5autista,  San  Miguel,  Caimel, 
the  Conception,  and  San  Kafael  were  deserted  or  in  niins.  St. 
Barbara  was  the  residence  of  Father  Narcissus  Duran,  the  kind, 
generous,  benevolent,  and  devoted  prefect.     At  San  Luis  Obispo, 

*  Uuflot;  Robinson,  p.  80. 

+  Duflot  do  Mofras,  Exploration  de  I'Oregon  dcs  Californies,  &c.  i.  320, 

889. 


m . 


r. 


114 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


amid  the  ruins,  lie  found,  in  the  gieatest  misery,  the  oldest  mis- 
sionary in  tlie  country,  Fatlier  llanion  AbeUa,  wliom  La  Peyrouse 
had  seen  there  in  1787.  This  aged  man  had  no  bed  but  a  liide, 
no  cup  but  a  horn,  no  food  but  some  dried  beef.  In  vain  had  F. 
Duran  urged  him  to  leave  his  place  and  take  one  of  greater  ease  ; 
lie  determined  to  die  at  the  mission,  and  divided  all  the  alms  sent 
him  among  his  poor  and  plundered  Indians.  Founder  of  several 
of  the  missions  that  now  lay  in  ruins,  he  still  talked  of  proceeding 
to  found  othei-s  in  the  north.  At  La  Soledad,  it  was  loneliness  in- 
deed :  there  were  silent  ruins,  but  no  missionary — not  an  Indian 
nor  a  single  head  of  cattle ;  the  vineyards  were  abandoned,  the 
gardens  overgrown,  and  the  orchards  wild.  At  San  Jose,  the  pre- 
fect of  the  northern  missions,  Father  Gonzalez,  received  from  the 
civil  administrator  an  allowance  of  food  less  than  would  be  given 
to  a  criminal.  San  Francisco  Solano  had  been  destroyed,  and  the 
materials  taken  by  Don  Mariano  Vallejo  to  construct  his  beautiful 
mansion.* 

Such  was  the  state  of  these  missions,  which  still  numbered  thir- 
teen missionaries ;  but  civil  war  now  broke  out ;  the  remaining  mis- 
sions were  occupied  by  the  contending  parties,  and  the  Indians 
were  drawn  into  the  quarrel.  Before  any  order  could  be  restored, 
the  American  war  ensued ;  California  was  taken,  the  gold  mines 
drew  a  new  population  to  the  country,  and  the  Indians  of  the 
missions  have  entirely  disappeared.  Four  of  the  old  missionaries 
still  remain  at  Santa  Barbara  and  San  Juan  Bautista,  but  the  work 
of  Father  Serra  and  his  successors  has  been  totally  destroyed, 
never  to  be  restored  again. 

The  Indians  of  California,  like  the  Seminoles  in  Florida,  have 
taken  to  the  mountains  and  forests,  and  in  retaliation  for  the 
wholesale  robbery  practised  on  them,  have  plundered  the  settlers 
and  emigrants.     War  wa.s  tried  in  vain,  and  the  government  of 


.' 


*  Duflot  do  Molras,  Exploration,  i.  333-447. 


'*. 


SPANISH   MISSIONS. 


115 


the  United  States  is  now  reviving  the  mission  plan,  omitting,  of 
course,  the  religious  feature.  On  the  San  Joaquin  liver  they  have 
collected  Indians,  laid  out  farms,  gathered  cattle,  and  are,  in  fact, 
jtui-suing  the  plan  of  the  Franciscans,  llow  far  this  tribute  to  the 
missionaries  will  succeed,  remains  to  be  seen.* 


CHAPTER    VIII. 


GENERAL    VIEW    OF    THE    SPANISH    MISSIONS. 


Plans  of  tlie  Spanish  missionaries — Failure  of  tlie  original  nietlioil — Tiie  retluetion  sys- 
tem—Complaints  and  ciiargcs  against  it — Its  effect  on  tljc  Indians — Its  complete 


success. 


\ 


We  have  thus  brought  to  a  close  the  history  of  the  various 
Indian  missions  in  the  states  and  territories  of  Spanish  origin,  and 
we  may  here  pause  to  examine  the  plans  pursued  by  the  leligious 
who  attempted  the  great  work  of  converting  the  Indians.  Tho 
earliest  attempts  arose  from  exploring  expeditions,  when  missiona- 
ries were  left  to  labor  alone,  or  were  attempts  made  by  Fathei-s 
who  ventured  alone  into  the  wilderness.  Almost  all  these  failed, 
and  resulted  only  in  giving  martyi-s  to  the  Churdi.  This  was  tho 
case  in  New  Mexico  and  in  Florida  down  to  the  close  of  tho  six- 
teenth century. 

The  reduction  plan  was  then  begun  in  two  different  modes. 
In  Florida,  tho  converts,  with  Indians  from  other  parts,  were 
formed  into  villages  near  the  Spanish  settlements,  and  were  grad- 


i; 


Pierce's  Message,  1854,  p.  463. 


146 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


ir-ii 


ually  trained  to  the  usages  of  civilized  life,  and  in  this  way  a  series 
of  Christian  villages  spread  over  the  country.  In  these,  the  mis- 
sionary had  merely  a  spiritual  power ;  the  Indians  were  left  free 
under  the  jjovernment  of  tlieir  chiefs,  and  their  progress  was  con- 
sequently sloAv.     They  remained,  to  all  intents,  a  distinct  class. 

In  New  Mexico  and  California  another  system  prevailed.  A 
mission  was  erected,  containing  a  church,  shops,  infirmanes,  grana- 
ries, schools,  and  other  necessary  a});irtments.  Two  missionaries, 
with  some  converted  Indians  and  a  stock  of  cattle,  agricultural 
implements,  tools,  and  machinery,  tcxjk  possession,  and  endeavon-d 
to  draw  some  of  the  surroundinu'  natives  to  the  mission.  This 
was  done  chiefly  through  the  converted  Indians.  Once  in  the 
mission,  the  native  was  no  longer  free  :  imder  the  compulsory 
system  employed,  he  was  instructed  in  Chiistianity,  accustomed 
to  labor,  and  according  to  the  ability  which  he  displayed,  applied 
to  some  trade.  Each  one  belonged  to  a  section  governed  by  a 
chief,  Avho  led  his  party  to  church  or  labor,  and  was  frequently 
not  sparing  of  bloAvs  in  enforcing  promptness.  Against  this  the 
Indian  at  first  rebelled  ;  but  as  all  his  wants  were  satisfied,  he 
soon  became  attached  to  his  life,  and  would  draw  others  of  his 
countrymen  in,  and  easily  persuaded  them  to  submit  to  the 
routine. 

Many  learned  Spanish  thoroughly,  and  all  acquired  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  Christian  religion,  which  they  faithfully  practised. 
Thus  they  gained  two  great  benefits — peace  and  comfort  in  this 
life,  and  means  of  attaining  happiness  in  the  next. 

Many  writei*s  have,  however,  denounced  this  compulsory  sys- 
tem as  one  of  tyranny,  as  degrading  a  noble  and  independent 
race  into  a  herd  of  slaves.  Religious  prejudice  has  clearly  some 
part  in  the  condemnation  thus  freely  given  by  a  class  of  writers, 
as  is  evinced  by  their  ignorr.ic'^  of  Catholic  doctrines,  and  the 
slighting  tone  in  which  they  speak  of  them  ;  but  still  the  question 
arises,  as  to  the  merit  of  the  system.     The  motive  and  the  succe^^ 


SPAXISII    MISSIONS. 


117 


ofau  act  do  not  always  justify  the  means,  and  in  tlio  present  ease, 
while  the  former  was  undoubtedly  good,  and  the  latter  great  be- 
yond a  parallel,  the  fact  that  the  missionaries  temporarily  depnved 
the  Indians  of  liberty  is  considered  an  act  altogether  unjustifiable. 

Modern  theorists  consider  the  savage  of  the  }>lains  a  man  en- 
dowed with  equal  social  rights  as  the  inhabitant  of  a  civilized  state. 
In  the  eye  of  the  Spanish  missionaries,  he  was  a  child  to  be  in- 
structed, and  might  be  put  under  restraint  in  order  to  teach  him 
the  rudiments  of  religion,  learning,  and  the  means  of  support. 
This  is  the  question  in  its  last  resort,  and  we  are  inclined  to  con- 
sider the  missionaries  as  correct  in  their  view^  The  officers  of  the 
United  States  have  come  to  the  same  conclusion.  Moreover,  the 
Indiams  themselves,  wlien  instructed,  approved  of  the  measure,  and 
when  restored  to  freedom  by  the  government,  regretted  the  peiiod 
of  subjection.  Of  this  there  are  innumerable  proofs.  The  con- 
dition of  the  wild  Indian  is  well  known  ;  that  of  the  mission  In- 
dian luider  the  Fathers  equally  so;  that  of  the  mission  Indian 
since  his  liberation  a  matter  of  daily  comment.  The  native  in 
the  first  was  ignorant  of  God,  and  of  the  arts  of  civilized  life ;  in 
the  second,  a  Christian,  industrious  and  happy,  though  to  some 
extent  enslaved ;  in  the  third,  a  poor  degraded  being. 

"  The  best  and  most  unequivocal  proof,"  says  Forbes,  "  of  the 
good  conduct  of  the  Franciscan  Fatheis,  is  to  be  found  in  the  un- 
bounded aftection  and  devotion  invariably  shown  towards  them  by 
their  Indian  subjcots.  They  venerate  them,  not  only  as  friends 
and  fathers,  but  with  a  degree  of  devotedness  approaching  to  ado- 
ration. On  the  occasion  of  the  removals  which  liave  taken  place 
of  late  years  from  political  causes,  the  distress  of  the  Indians  in 
parting  with  their  pastors  has  been  extreme.  They  have  entreated 
to  be  allowed  to  follow  them  in  their  exile,  with  tears  and  lament- 
ations, and  with  all  the  demonstrations  of  true  sorrow  and  un- 
bounded affection.  Indeed,  if  there  ever  existed  an  instance  of 
the  perfect  justice  and  propriety  of  the  comparison  of  the  priest 


118 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


and  his  disciples  to  a  shepherd  and  his  flock,  it  is  in  the  case  of 
which  we  are  treating."* 

The  cliief  of  the  Kecliis  of  St.  Luis  Rey  told  IJartlett  "  that  his 
tnbe  was  largo  and  his  people  happy,  when  the  good  Fathers  were 
there  to  protect  them.  That  they  cultivated  the  soil,  assisted  iu 
rearing  large  herds  of  cattle,  were  taught  to  bo  blacksmiths  and 
carpenters,  as  well  as  other  trades ;  that  they  had  plenty  to  eat, 
and  were  happy.  .  .  .  Now  they  were  scattered  al)out,  lie  knew 
not  where,  without  a  home  or  protectors,  and  were  in  a  miserable, 
starving  condition." 

"  Christian  sects,"  says  Bartlett  himself,  "  may  cavil  about  their 
success  among  the  Indian  tribes ;  but  it  is  an  undeniable  fact  that 
tlio  Jesuits  (by  which  he  means  Catholic  missionaries)  accom- 
plished more  during  their  sw.iy  than  all  other  religious  denominu- 
tions.  They  brought  the  tribes  of  Mexico  and  California  undci- 
the  most  complete  subjection,  and  kept  them  so  until  their  order 
was  suppressed.  And  how  was  this  done  ?  Not  by  the  swoid. 
nor  by  treaty,  nor  by  presents,  nor  by  Indian  agents,  who  would 
sacrifice  the  poor  creatures  without  scruple  or  remorse  for  their 
own  vile  gains.  The  Indian  was  taught  Christianity,  with  many 
of  the  arts  of  civilized  life,  and  how  to  sustain  himself  by  his  labor. 
By  this  simple  means,  the  Society  of  Jesus  (and  other  religious 
orders)  accomplished  more  towards  ameliorating  the  condition  of 
tlie  Indians,  than  the  United  States  has  done  since  the  settlement 
of  the  country."! 

Such  was  the  happy  state  of  the  Indians  under  the  missionaries. 
Under  the  Mexican  government  they  exclaimed,  "  See  our  unhap- 
py state !  the  Fathers  can  no  longer  protect  us,  and  the  public 
authorities  themselves  rob  us.  Is  it  not  terrible  to  see  wrested  from 
us  the  missions  that  we  have  built,  the  herds  that  we  have  gath- 
ered by  our  care,  and  ourselves  and  our  families  exposed  to  ill 


■3 


*  Forbes,  California,  230. 


t  Bartlctt,  Personal  Narrative,  ii.  92,  432. 


SPAXISII  MISSIONS. 


119 


the  case  of 


treatiiient  and  tlcath  itself  T'*  Forbes  shows  them  in  the  hands 
of  tlie  government  reduceil  to  *^  nerty,  phmged  in  vice,  constantly 
in  prison,  and  a  pest  to  tlie  couhiry,  witliin  a  few  months  after  the 
suppression  of  a  mission.f 

And  thougli  liartlett  found  Mission  Indians  so  intelligent  and 
viituons  that  Ameiicans  married  them,  he  says  of  them  jis  a  chiss : 
''  They  are  a  miserable,  squalid  looking  set,  squatting  or  lying 
about  the  comere  of  the  streets,  without  occupation.  They  have 
ii(»\v  no  means  of  obtaining  a  living,  as  their  lands  are  all  taken 
from  them  ;  and  the  missions  for  which  they  labored,  and  which 
provided  after  a  sort  for  many  thousands  of  them,  are  abolished.J 
Xo  care  seems  to  l)e  taken  of  them  by  the  Americans ;  on  the 
contraiT,  the  effort  seems  to  be  to  exterminate  them  as  soon  as 
]>ossible."§ 

A  similar  plan  was  pursued  in  Florida.  We  have  seen  what 
the  Seminole  has  done.  Driven  from  his  village,  he  became 
more  terrible  than  tribes  that  had  never  been  converted  or  civilized. 
The  Californian  threatens  to  follow  his  example.  "  Who  can  ac- 
ciLse  us  of  guilt,"  says  an  Indian  chief,  "  if  we  act  on  the  defensive, 
and  if  we  take  to  the  Tulares,  bearing  with  us  all  the  cattle  that 
we  can  hurry  off?"  And  acting  on  this  plan  of  vengeance, 
they  sweep  off  the  horses,  then  the  cattle,  and  even  the  women 
of  their  oppressors.]! 

The  Spanish  missions  in  Florida,  Texas,  and  California,  no 
longer  exist.  Are  we,  then,  to  attribute  their  annihilation  to  some 
inherent  weakness,  or  to  an  external  cause  ?  No  one  who  has 
read  their  history  can  hesitate  to  admit  that  the  interference  of 
government  alone  crushed  them ;  that  their  ruin  is  chargeable  to 


*  Duflot  de  Mofras,  Exploration,  i.  345. 

t  Forbes,  California.  130. 

X  "VVoe  to  the  poor,  when  the  convent  goes  ! 

§  Bartlctt,  Personal  Narrative,  ii.  82. 

\  Dnflot  de  Mofras,  i.  Ur,.  . 


120 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


I  hiv! 


%. 

•■k—  ^ 


<.. 


.^' 


the  English  aiul  Mexican  govcrnnicMits,  and  to  the  inborn  hostihty 
of  the  Anglo-Saxon  yucq  to  the  Iruliun, — a  hostility  which  has  at 
all  times  disroganlcd  his  rights  and  sought  his  extermination.  The 
I*iieblo  Indian  of  New  Mexico  was  a  citizen  of  Mexico,  and  is  now 
by  treaty  a  citizen  of  the  United  States;  but  an  Abnaki  in  Maine 
cannot  marrj'  a  white,  an«l  till  within  a  few  yearn  an  Iroquois  could 
not  own  a  foot  of  land  in  his  native  State ;  and  the  Cherokee, 
promised  admission  as  a  State,  has  never  yet  sent  a  deputy  to 
Washington  to  sit  in  our  national  halls :  no  Indian,  in  fact,  can 
hope  to  attain  the  lionor,  except  a  Pueblo  Indian,  whoso  ancestors 
were  converted  by  Catholic  missionaries. 

Thus  stands  the  case.  The  Spanish  missions  remain  a  monu- 
ment of  Catliolic  zeal,  and  if  "  they  have  come  to  naught,"*  if  we 
"must  seek  in  vain  for  the  res\;"its  of  their  toil  and  sacrifices,"!  the 
failure  is  not  to  be  ascribed  to  tlie  men  who  created  the  missions, 
any  more  than  we  can  ascribe  want  of  skill  to  Apelles  or  Zeuxis 
because  their  works  have  been  destroyed.  Every  human  work  is 
liable  to  change  and  vicissitude  :  the  missions  are  among  the  no- 
blest works  of  man,  and  in  the  same  degree  that  we  admire  the 
*  zealoug  men  who  fi'I^d  Florida,  Tex.is,  and  California  with  Chris- 
tian villages,  must  we  stamp  with  every  brand  of  ignominy  and 
disgrace  the  men  and  the  policy  wliich  destroyed  them,  or  drove 
their  inmates  back  into  barbarism. 


.>^' 


*  Kip,  Early  Jesuit  Missions,  xiii. 
t  Pnrkman,  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  48. 
lions  of  the  kind. 


We  need  not  cite  other  asscr- 


in  hostility 
licli  has  ut 
ition.  Tho 
iind  is  now 
:i  in  Maine 
quois  could 
Cherokee, 
deputy  to 
n  fact,  can 
e  ancestors 

in  a  monu- 

rht,"*ifwe 

ifices,"f  the 

le  missions, 

IS  or  Zeuxis 

lan  work  is 

ng  the  no- 

dniire  the 

nth.  Chris- 

miny  and 

,  or  drove 


FRENCH  MISSIONS 


kher  asscr- 


•  %■ 


FACSIMILES 

OF  THE  AUTOGRAPHS  OF  CELEBRATED  MISSIONARIES. 

••• — . — 


JHm»M  «ni»  fnwn  Pulsions. 


r 


Cc^*-^i 


CairttL    "hr^Majies     ^ic.J. 


pi^ 


'^i^ 


9yi^f-  S.3. 


^o^e/^,^  0>in^.c^t^  /o^^(?eStK0 


*  St.  Francis  BorjLrtn.— 1 
nruilletes.— 2  J.  Bigot— 8  V. 
Blffot.— 4  H.  J,  Gassot— 5  8. 
Rale.    6  J.  Germain. 


1  J.  deBrebeuf.— 2  A.deNobfl. 
—8  J.  Poncet.— 4  R.  Menard.— 
6  L.  Garrenu.— 6  N.  Chabane! 
—7.  F.  J.  Bressanl.— 8  O.  Lale- 
mant— 9.  A.  Grelrn.  —  f  j. 
Bat  ens. 


H      t 


ii; 


>  j¥ 


IT. 

FAC-SIMILES 

OF  THE  AUTOGRAPHS  OF  CELEBRATED  MISSIONARIES. 


•  •• 


£X^      13 


4 
6 


8 


10 


14 


1    I.  Joguee.  — 2  8.    !o 

y  Moyne.— 8   C.    Dablon.-4 

'  J.  M.  Chaumonot. — 5  F.  !'■ 

^  _  Mercier. — 6  J.  Freniln.— 7 

d«    Lambervi'.Ie.  — 11    A. 

Dalmas.— 12  C.  Cbauelio- 
^,^.  tl^re.— 18  P.  Cholenoc-H 

^'^*'  J.  P.  LafeUo. 


/^> 


m. 


/IRIES. 


UK     J' 


Icfie^    13 


THE  FRENCH  MISSIONS. 


ae8.--2  8.    !o 

1  C.    Dablon.— 4 

lonot— 5  F.  !'• 

J.  Freniin.— 7 

kn.— S  J.  Gar- 

[Eaflfeix.-1"' 

Ivi'.le.  — 11    A. 

C.    Cbauolie- 

Cholenoc— H 


CITArTER   I. 


General  view  of  tho  French  missions — Jesuits  at  Port  Royal — Recollects  atQui-bcc — 
Groat  Jesuit  mission  of  Canada — Its  rapid  projrross,  and  frreat  extent— Labors  of  tho 
priests  of  the  Foreign  missions  and  Sulpitiaus — Division  of  tho  subject. 

The  Spanish  missions  wliicli  wo  liave  hitliorto  examined  are 
separated  from  each  other  by  lari^c  tracts  of  territory,  and  were 
cntin'ly  independent  of  eacli  other,  being  the  work  of  various 
bodies,  undertaken  at  ditferent  times,  and  not  resuUing  from  any 
gradual  progress  of  ciNnhzation  and  Clnistianity. 

Tlie  French  missions  present  a  striking  contrast  to  these,  and  form 
one  gradual  conquest,  a  steadily  advancing  empire,  as  regular  in  its 
growth  as  our  own  republic.  The  French  kings  were  as  sensible 
of  the  great  duty  of  converting  the  natives  as  the  monarchs  of 
Spain.  Cartier's  commission  authorized  him  to  explore,  "in  order 
the  better  to  do  what  is  pleasing  to  God,  our  Creator  and  Re- 
deemer, and  what  may  be  for  the  increase  of  his  holy  and  sacred 
name,  and  of  our  holy  mother,  the  Church." 

De  Monts,  the  founder  of  Acadia,  was  also  required  to  Ikivc  tho 
Indians  instmcted,  invited,  and  impelled  to  a  knowledge  of  God  and 
the  light  of  faith  and  Chnstianity.  A  settlement  was  begun  by  him 
on  Boon  Island,  at  the  moutli  of  the  St.  Croix,  as  early  as  1008,  which, 
ti-ansferred  to  the  opposite  shore,  took  the  name  of  Port  Royal,  and 
now  beam  that  of  Annapolis.  This  was  the  first  foothold  of  France 
and  of  Catholicity  in  the  north.  Potrincourt,  who  succeeded  him 
in  the  work  of  colonization,  addressed  a  touching  letter  to  tlui  Pope, 
'lud  obtained  his  benediction  on  his  laboi-s.    As  the  pro])agation  of 


124 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


i 


^     H 

1 

i| 

1 

I 


i-^ 


i 


Cliristianity  was  thus  desired  by  all,  the  king  chose  evangelical 
laborers  for  the  field  of  Acadia.  Two  Jesuit  missionaries  soon  .ar- 
rived there  to  convert  the  natives,  and  after  laboring  among  the 
Miemacs  or  Souriquois  of  Nova  Scotia,  removed  to  the  coast  of 
Maine  to  plant  the  cross  among  the  Abnakis,  but  alas!  only  to  see 
it  broken,  and  their  mission  crushed  bv  Enoflish  violence. 

(Quebec  was,  however,  built  in  a  more  secure  spot  by  the  pious 
( Jham})lain.  Deeply  sensible  of  the  duty  of  Chnstian  powers  to 
extend  the  gospel,  justly  deeming  the  conversion  of  the  heathen 
more  glorious  than  the  conquest  of  a  kingdom,*  he  soon  sought  a 
body  of  missionaries  to  labor  on  the  St.  Lawrence  among  the  many 
tiibes  whom  his  policy  had  won.  The  Recollects, abrancli  of  the 
Franciscans,  avIio  had  revived  all  the  fervor  of  their  order's  earlv 
days,  and  were  then  recently  established  in  France,  listened  to  his 
call,  and  in  1615  three  priests  and  one  lay-brother  came  over  to 
beofin  their  labors. 

The  field  was  one  of  trouble  and  difficulty,  but  of  peace.  The 
Montagnais  on  the  Saguenay,  and  the  Algonquins  proper  on  the 
St.  Lawrence  and  Ottawa,  split  up  into  various  petty  tribes,  all 
nomadic,  and  reliant  chiefly  on  hunting  and  fishing,  presented  a 
field  appalling  in  its  difficulty,  as  they  had  no  villages,  and  the 
work  of  conversion  seemed  to  require  a  missionary  for  every  wan- 
dering hunter's  lodge.  Allied  to  these,  though  distinct  in  origin 
and  language,  were  a  tribe  on  the  banks  of  Lake  Huron,  by  them- 
selves, in  their  own  tongue,  called  Wendats  or  Wyandots,  but  by 
the  French  nicknamed  Hurons. 

One  Recollect  proceeded  to  this  tribe,  while  his  companions  re- 
mained to  labor  among  the  Algonquins  and  Montagnais  on  the  St. 
Lawrence.  These  three  great  missions  continued  under  the  Fran- 
ciscans alone  till  1625,  when  three  Jesuits,  on  their  invitation,  ar- 

**  "  La  sftlut  d'une  scale  iinie  vaut  niieux  que  la  conqu^te  d'une  empire,  et 
li's  rois  no  doivcnt  songer  ii  etendre  leur  domination  dims  le.s  pays  ou  regno 
riilolatrie,  quo  pour  les  soumettre  a  Jesus  Christ."  These  are  the  first  word.- 
iii  ('hamplain's  Voyages. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS.  125 

rived  to  aid  them.  Both  orders  tJien  hibored  in  concert  till  1029, 
when  the  English  took  Quebec  and  carried  oti"  all  the  missionaries. 
( Jn  the  restoration  of  the  country  to  France  the  mission  was  otlered 
by  the  Fiencli  government  to  the  Capuchins,  anotlier  branch  of  the 
Franciscans,  and  being  declined  by  them,  was,  at  their  suggestion, 
given  to  the  Jesuits.*  The  latter  returned  in  1G33,  resumed  the 
work  already  begun,  and  for  nearly  half  a  century  wrestled  with 
paganism  in  the  northern  wilds.  Henceforth  Quebec  became  a 
centre,  whence  Jesuit  missionaries  were  sent  far  and  wide.  Zeal 
and  enthusiasm  for  tlie  mission  cause  were  soon  excited  in  Europe, 
especially  in  the  Society  of  Jesus,  its  friends  and  patrons;  and  the 
younger  Jesuits  burned  with  a  new  ardor  to  labor  among  the  In- 
dians of  New  France.  Young  men  left  camp  and  court  to  enter 
the  order  in  the  liope  of  sharing  the  toil  of  the  missionaries ;  a  son 
of  the  Marquis  de  Gamache  founded  the  college  of  Quebec  by  his 
devotedness.  Even  the  convents  of  women  partook  tlie  general 
zeal ;  the  Ursulines  and  Hospital  nuns  came  to  show  the  Indians 
Christianity  in  practice,  tending  the  sick  and  instructing  the  young, 
while  Canada  itself  raised  a  new  society  to  aid  them. 

The  ri(;h  and  noble  bestowed  ample  funds,  not  only,  as  we  have 
seen,  to  found  the  college  of  Quebec,  but  also  to  establish  missions 
in  various  parts.f 

*  Kiolielieu's  permission,  in  Brcssani,  Kclation  abropt'e,  p.  295. 
■♦  A  manuscript  at  Quebec,  one  of  the  few  papers  of  the  voluminous  Jesuit 
arcliives,  whioli,  in  the  liands  of  the  colot|ial  autliorities,  have  survived  to 
tliis  day,  gives  tlie  following  curious  list  of  benefactors  to  tlie  Jesuit  mission. 
It  is  dated  in  lCn.3: 

March  15,  1C26,  Marquis  de  Gaxnadie 48,000  liv.,  3,000  per  annum, 

1C34,  Mr.  IJardin 5,400  " 

April  37,  1G87,    "        "        .'. TOO    "        " 

1638.  Cardinal  Richelieu  (Huron  mission)..  1,000    "        " 

Feb.  22,    16:39,  M.  de  Slllerv 20.000  " 

Mine.  Bernidro 30,000  " 

1C44,  Mr.  Avencl 100  " 

"      2S,  1646,  Mr.  Loutiion  12,000  " 

Aug.   14,     "      RrotherSt.Gllles 25,000" 

Mmo.  St.  Gilles 5.000" 

Mine,  de  Manpoon 5,000  " 

1665.  An  unknown  jn-rson  ut  V  nine 1.200  " 

Mme  .le  hi  r.-litie 7.000  " 


12G 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


'I 


Yet  tlie  time  was  not  })io[)itioiiH ;  the  Canada  Iiulians,  though 
all  at  peace  with  each  other,  were  at  war  with  the  Iroquois  in  New 
York,  and  in  the  contest  lost  fearfully  year  after  year.  Still  the 
missions  went  on.  The  Algonquins  on  Lake  Uuron  began  to  re- 
ceive missionaiies,  and  two  Avere  sent  to  the  rapids  of  St.  Mary,  the 
outlet  of  Lake  Superior,  in  1G42.  That  very  year.Jogues,  one  of 
these  two,  taken  prisoner  by  the  Iroquois,  preached  on  the  Mo- 
hawk, and  escaping  to  the  Dutch  colony,  finally  reached  EuroiX3 
safely,  only  to  return  to  Canada  again.  In  an  interval  of  peace,  in 
1G4G,  he  was  sent  to  the  Mohawk  to  begin  the  first  Iroquois  mis- 
sion, and  at  the  same  time  Driiillettes  set  out  to  found  another 
mission  among  the  Abnakis  on  the  Kennebec.  Jogues  was  slain, 
his  mission  overthrown,  a  new  war  ensued,  in  which  the  Huron 
nation  Avas  destroyed,  and  the  Algonquins  reduced.  The  missions 
were  thus  broken  up.  The  surviving  Hurons  fled ;  some  to  Quebec 
to  form  the  mission  of  Loretto;  some  joined  the  Iroquois  in  New 
York,  and  led  to  new  missions  there ;  some  struck  west  to  the 
shores  of  Lake  Superior  and  the  Mississippi,  and  roaming  to  Macki- 
naw, Detroit,  and  Sandusky,  now  dwell  on  the  banks  of  the 
Kansas  and  Missouri. 

When  peace  was  at  last  restored,  missions  were  again  begun  in 
the  cantons  of  the  Iroquois,  and  though  interrupted  from  time  to 
time  by  wars,  and  finally  crushed  by  Enghsh  intrigue  in  1685, 
and  by  subsequent  violence,  succeeded  in  that  period  in  gaining  so 
many,  that  the  neophytes,  retiring  to  the  St.  Lawrence,  formed 
Christian  villages,  three  of  which  still  exist. 

About  the  same  time  missionaries  were  sent  to  the  shores  of 
Lake  Superior,  to  found  the  Ottawa  mission  among  the  Chippe- 
ways  and  Ottawas.  The  Fathers  soon  extended  their  labors  to 
the  Menomqnees,  Pottawottamies,  Sacs,  Foxes,  Kikapoos,  Mascou- 
tins,  all  Algonquins,  to  the  Winnebagoes,  a  branch  of  the  g''eat 
Dacota  family,  then  to  the  Miami  and  IlHnois,  the  last  branches 
of  the  Algic  race  in  the  west. 


FKENX'II   MISSIONS. 


127 


These  missions  led  to  tlie  discovery  of  the  MississipjM,  and  to 
the  founding  of  permanent  missions  among  the  Illinois,  where 
Jesuits,  KecoUects,  and  priests  from  tho  Seminaiy  of  Quebec,  la- 
bored almost  side  by  side.  A  mission  in  Arkansas  was  tiie  most 
distant  effort  made  by  the  Jesuits  of  Quebec;,  but  the  Seminary 
sent  its  priests  to  Natchez  and  Mobile. 

AVhen  Louisiana  was  settled,  Jesuits  were  sent  from  France  to 
nndert.ike  missions  on  the  Lower  Mississipjii,  and  replanting  the 
cross  at  Arkansas,  announced  the  faith  to  the  Yazoos,  Alabamas, 
Choctaws,  and  Creeks.  These  new  Jesuit  missions  were  not 
subject  to  the  Superior  at  Quebec,  but  to  another  at  New  Orleans. 

Such  is  the  scope  of  the  Frencli  missions,  wliicli  may  be  thus 
divided, — 

L  Tlie  Abnaki  mission,  in  Maine ; 

n.  The  Huron  mission,  in  Upper  Canada,  Michigan,  and  Ohio ; 

III.  The  Iroquois  mission,  in  New  York  ; 

IV.  The  Ottawa  mission,  in  AVisconsin  and  Michigan ; 
V.  The  Illinois  mission,  in  Illinois ;  and 

VI.  The  Louisiana  mission. 

They  extend  chiefly  from  1625  to  lVG3,  but  have  all  been  con- 
tinued to  the  present  time.  Those  of  Canada  have  been  the  most 
accurately  chronicled,  and  of  them  we  possess  the  most  satisfactory 
details.  The  early  vSuperiors  at  Quebec  who  give  them  were  earn- 
est, enterprising  men,  themselves  all  inured  to  missionary  labor. 
Year  by  year  they  sent  their  apostolic  laborers  to  face  death  in 
every  shaj^e  as  heralds  of  the  cross. 

As  all  obeyed  the  same  Superior,  the  same  missionary  will 
appear  at  different  times  in  missions  the  most  distant  from  each 
other ;  now  laboring  amid  the  snows  of  Maine,  or  amid  the  snow 
and  ice  of  Hudson's  Bay,  then  at  Sault  St.  Mary's,  or  among  the 
Illinois,  on  the  upland  plains  of  Missouri.  Some  recalled  to  Eu- 
rope, were  sent  to  end  their  days  in  other  lands.     A  missionary 


128 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


4"  ■ 


who  had  visited  Albany  dies  at  Martinique,  or  Macerata,  or  in  St. 
Domingo;*  another,  after  instruetinj^  tlie  Ilurons  by  tlieir  hike, 
passes  his  remaining  days  in  the  dress  of  a  man  of  letters,  win- 
ning the  children  of  the  celestial  empire  to  the  gospel  of 
truth,  or  roaming  through  Tartary,  meets  a  Huron  woman, 
and  pi'oves  that  Asia  and  America  touch  or  closely  approach 
each  other.f 

The  Spanisii  missionaries,  as  we  liave  seen,  first  went  alone  to 
found  missions  in  Florida  and  New  Mexico,  and  failing,  adopted 
another  system,  by  which  each  missionary  corps  consisted  of  mis- 
sionaries with  Spanish  soldiers,  Indians  already  converted,  and 
mechanics.  In  tliis  way  the  missions  of  New  Mexico,  Texas,  and 
California  were  carried  out. 

The  French  plan  was  ditierent :  the  missionary  planted  his  cross 
among  the  heathen,  and  won  all  that  he  could  to  the  fiiith,  ftnd 
whenever  he  could  formed  a  distinct  village  of  Christians ;  but 
these  villages  were  never  like  the  missions  of  the  Spanish  mis- 
sionaries :  the  French  pi-iest  left  his  neophyte  free — setting  him 
no  task,  building  no  splendid  edifices  by  his  toil.  The  Spanisii 
mission  contained  its  workshops,  dormitories,  infirmaries,  and  gra- 
naries ;  the  P'rench  mission  was  a  fort  against  hostile  attack,  and 
inclosed  merely  the  church,  mission-house,  and  mechanics'  sheds — 
the  Indians  all  living  without  in  cabins  or  houses,  and  entering  the 
fort  only  in  time  of  danger. 

The  missions  of  the  Frencli,  then,  bear  a  new  aspect :  tribes 
remain  tribes — the  Indian  free  in  his  idolatiy  was  free  as  a  Chris- 
tian. As  of  the  Spanish  missionaries,  so  of  the  French,  every  au- 
thority beare  testimony  to  their  worth  ;  many  were  men  of  eminent 
sanctity  and  devotedness,  and  America  no  less  than  Catholicity 
claims  them  as  her  heroes. 

We  cannot  forbear  citing  here  some  lines  written  on  the  fly-loaf 


■ 

i 


*  Poncet,  BresBnui,  Le  Mercier. 


t  Grelon. 


FRENX^H    MISSIONS. 


129 


,  or  in  St. 
lieir  lake, 
ttcrs,  win- 
gospel  of 
1  woman, 
approach 

t  alone  to 
^,  adopted 
ed  of  mis- 
^•ted,  and 
Fexas,  and 


of  the  journal  of  the  Superiors  of  the  Jesuits,  and  which  apply 
equally  to  all  the  missionary  bodies  : 

"  Si  vncat  nnnalcs  nostroriim  aiidiro  hil)onim, 
Ante  annos  clauso  componet  Vesper  (.)lynipo, 
Qiiam  primo  repctcns  ab  origiuc  rtinjjulu  tradam. 
Ciuse  regio  in  tcrris  nostri  tarn  plena  laboris  ? 
Dispico  sacratas  nostroruin  ex  onlii^c  puj^nas 
Bellaquc,  jam  fainu  totuni  vulgata  per  orbein, 
Et  laccro3  artus  ambiistaquc  corpora  flammis. 
Juratus  prfficlaram  Ilnronum  exscindero  gentcm, 
Iroqu»u3  multa  vastabat  ctcdo  colonoa 
Ilostibus  Decisis,  pcssumdedit  Algonquinos." 


d  his  cross 

faith,  And 

tians ;  but 

finish  mis- 

tting  him 

3  Spanish 

,  and  gra- 

tack,  and 

'  sheds — 

Itering  the 

it:  tribes 
a  Chris- 

jvery  au- 
erainent 

^tholicity 

K3  flv-lenf 


CHAPTER   II. 

THE     ABNAKI     MISSION. 

The  Abnakis— First  Jesuit  mission  under  Fatlier  Biard— Its  difflculties — St  Savior's 
founded— Its  destruction  by  Argal— Recollect  missions— Capucliins— New  Jesuit  mis- 
EJon  under  Druillettes— His  sufferings  and  success  ia  Maine — Ilis  embassies  and  later 
missions. 

The  tribe  called  by  the  French  Abnakis,  by  the  English  Taran- 
teens,  and  by  the  New  Yorkers  Owenagungas,  was  one  of  the 
most  powerful  Algonquin  tribes  in  the  east,  and  occupied  the 
greater  part  of  the  present  State  of  Maine.  Less  errant  than  most 
of  the  tribes  of  the  Algic  family,  they  possessed  settled  villages  and 
cultivated  lands,  although  at  certain  seasons  all  went  to  fish  or 
hunt.  Although  distinguished  as  wamors,  they  never  were  charged 
with  craelty,  while  a  certain  purity  of  morals  and  amenity  of  man- 
ners raised  them  above  most  of  the  surrounding  tribes. 

Port  Koyal,  now  Annapolis,  in  Nova  Scotia,  had  been  but  just 
founded,  when  projects  for  the  conversion  of  the  natives  occupied 

6* 


130 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


1 


i 


the  thoughts  of  the  great  Henry  IV.,  who  tlien  filled  the  throne 
of  Fr.nnce.  At  his  suggestion  Fatlier  Coton,  the  I'rovincial  of  the 
Jesuits,  undertook  tlie  mission,  and  selected  Fathers  I*eter  Biard 
and  Enemond  Masse  to  bo  the  apostles  of  New  France.  Full  of 
a  lioly  entliusijism,  the  two  missionaries  hastened  to  Bordeaux  in 
1008,  but  found  no  means  of  embarking.  An  evident  disposition 
existed  to  prevent  their  voyage,  and  in  1610,  wo  find  tliem  at 
Dieppe,  ready  to  enter  the  vessel  of  Potrincourt,  the  patentee  of 
I'ort  Royal.  Here  a  new  difficulty  arose :  the  vessel  was  owned 
in  part  by  two  Huguenot  merchants,  who  refused  a  passage  to 
members  of  the  hated  order,  and  the  two  missionaries  retired  to 
the  college  of  Eu.  No  alternative  now  remained  but  to  purchase 
a  vessel,  and  Lady  Guercheville,  the  protectress  of  the  mission, 
having  collected  at  court  a  suflScient  sum,  bought  of  the  two  mer- 
chants their  share  in  the  vessel  and  cargo,  and  transferring  it  to 
the  missionaries  as  a  fund  for  their  support,  made  them  partneis 
with  Potrincourt.  This  step,  which  the  malice  of  their  enemies 
rendered  necessary,  was  made  the  occasion  of  new  charges,  and, 
as  we  shall  see,  gave  rise  to  gi'eater  diflSculties  in  America. 

Having  thus  secured  a  passage,  they  sailed  with  Biencourt,  a 
son  of  the  proprietor,  and  landed  at  Port  Royal  on  the  12th  of 
June,  1611.  A  French  priest,  Messire  Jesse  Fleche,  of  Langres, 
was  ah-eady  there,  but  confined  himself  chiefly  to  the  care  of  the 
colonists,  although  he  baptized,  apparently  somewhat  in  liaste,  a 
number  of  the  natives,  and  sent  an  account  of  it  to  France.* 

On  arriving  at  Port  Royal,  the  two  missionaries  set  to  work  to 
learn  the  Micmac  language,  but  found  none  of  the  French  able  to 
assist  them.  Fortunately  the  Sagamore  Membertou  had  learnt 
some  French,  and  was  anxious  to  know  the  doctrines  of  Christian- 
ity thoroughly  before  he  received  baptism.  In  a  short  time  all 
his  doubts  were  dissipated,  and  the  missionaries,  now  conversant 


*  See  a  list  in  Lesoorbot,  Nouvelle  France. 


FUENCH   MISSIONS. 


131 


uitli  tlio  languji^a^,  ho]x;d  soon  to  cuiiveit  llie  whole  tribo;  but 
tlics*;  lioiKis  were  da«liod  by  tlu^  unexpected  dentil  of  Menibertou. 
Undismayed  by  the  loss,  they  continued  their  laboi-s,  residing  princi- 
pally in  tho  lodges  of  the  Micmacs,  or  toiling  among  the  colonists, 
on  whom  want  began  to  press.  Their  position  was  one  of  trial : 
sacrificing  themselves  for  others,  they  received  at  tho  hands  of  Bien- 
court,  then  commanding  the  settlement,  every  abuse  and  indignity. 
Although,  as  we  have  seen,  the  missionaries  were  really  partners  in 
the  trade,  liiencourt  refused  them  any  share  in  the  stores,  donied 
them  even  the  usual  rations,  and  on  their  remonstrating  against  his 
conduct,  the  headstrong  boy,  for  he  was  only  eighteen  years  of  age, 
threatened  to  have  them  publicly  flogged.  Despairing  now  of  effect- 
ing any  good  result  in  such  a  colony,  Biard  and  Masse  resolved  to 
return  to  Europe ;  but  the  caprices  of  Biencourt  were  not  ex- 
hausted ;  he  actually  forced  them  to  reland  when  already  em- 
barked.*  A  lay-brother,  named  Gilbert  du  Thet,  had  brought 
tliem  out  supplies,  and  on  his  return  to  Fi'auce,  he  acquainted  the 
>hu'chioness  de  Guercheville,  the  patroness  of  the  mission,  with 
the  wretched  state  of  the  two  Fathers,  and  the  wrong  done  them. 
She  had  ah'eady  interested  lierself  too  much  to  be  willing  to  see 
her  zealous  desiijns  thus  crushed  :  she  endeavored  to  make  with 
] 'otrincourt,  the  owner  of  Port  Royal,  some  arrangement  which 
would  leave  the  missionaiies  at  hberty  to  prosecute  their  labors. 
Failing  in  this,  she  resolved  to  found  in  some  other  spot  a  mission 
colony.  Father  Biard  had  already  visited  the  Kennebec,  and 
spoke  so  highly  of  the  country  and  people,  that  she  chose  it  for 
the  site.  A  patent  from  the  king,  and  a  grant  or  release  from 
De  Monts,  a  foraier  patentee,  were  easily  obtained.  Iler  own 
property,  aided  by  contributions  fi'om  the  queen  and  the  ladies  of 
the  French  court,  soon  equipped  a  vessel,  which  was  sent  out  with 
all  necessary  articles  under  the  command  of  La  Saussaye.     On 


Lcscarbot,  decidedly  hostile  to  the  Jesuit^,  states  this  fact. 


132 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


I 


nrriviiiif  at  I'ort  Koyal,  in  Mardi,  IGIH,  this  coinniaiKlor  took  tlio 
two  missionaries  on  lH»ai<I,  an<l  tliey,  with  Du  Thct  and  Kathoi's 
(^ucntin  and  Laicfuant,  who  faiin*  with  La  Saus.sayo,  sail»'d  tor 
Mount  lU'scrt  Island,  at  tho  mouth  of  the  JV'iiohscot.  Thoir  pilot, 
hy  soujo  mistako,  cani^'d  tluMn  to  tlio  oast  side  of  the  island. 
JIt'n>  tliey  landed,  and  havinuj  planted  a  cross,  the  Fathers  otfered 
the  holy  sa<;ritieo  of  the  mass,  and  takincf  possession  of  tlio  island, 
founded  a  mission  settlemenr  under  the  name  of  the  Holy  Sa- 
viour. AVhile  the  colonists  were  raisinix  a  little  fort  and  houses, 
Fatlicr  Bi.ivd  witli  Lieutenant  La  M<»tte  le  Vilin  landed  on  the 
coast,  and  advanced  into  the  interior  of  the  countiy,  in  order  to 
explore  it,  and  if  possible  ojx'u  friendly  communications  with  the 
natives.  When  they  at  last  descned  a  village,  their  esirs  were 
saluted  by  fearful  yells  and  cries,  and  supposing  it  to  be  a  funeral 
ceremony,  they  hastened  on,  till  they  met  an  Indian,  who  told  them 
that  a  child  wjis  dying.  In  hopes  of  arriving  in  time  to  baptize 
it,  the  misvsionary  ran  with  all  speed,  and  on  reaching  the  village, 
found  all  ranged  in  a  double  line,  with  the  father  of  the  chik;  at 
the  end,  holding  the  little  suft'erer  in  his  arms.  At  every  sigh  it 
uttered,  he  gave  a  feaH'ul  yell,  which  taken  up  and  repeated  on 
either  side,  produced  the  noise  which  had  attracted  the  missionary. 
Biard,  who  with  M:  se  had  made  some  progress  in  the  Algonquin 
at  Port  Royal,  advanced  to  the  father,  and  fiske-l  him  whether  he 
was  willing  to  have  his  child  baptized.  lie  silently  laid  it  in  the 
arms  of  the  missionary,  who,  handing  it  to  La  Motte,  ran  for  wa- 
ter and  baptized  it,  amid  the  silent  wonder  of  the  Indians.  He 
then  knelt  and  implored  the  Almighty  to  vouchsafe  some  sign  of 
his  power  in  order  to  confirm  his  ministry  in  the  eyes  of  this  blind 
but  docile  people.  His  prayer  was  not  refnsed.  The  child,  being 
now  handed  over  to  its  mother,  was  to  all  appearance  well,  and 
applied  its  Hps  to  her  breast.  So  striking  a  wonder  disposed  all 
to  receive  the  missionaries  as  men  of  superior  power ;  and,  grate- 
ful to  God,  with  a  heart  elated  by  hope,  Father  Biard  returned  to 


KKKN'OII    MISSIONS. 


188 


St.  Savior's.  'I'lic  tort  was  soon  t'misli.'d  ;  t\u;  various  arficlt-s  wrn? 
lamlod ;  tliose  who  won*  ii(»t  to  rciiiMiii  prepared  to  «'inl>ark,  aii<l 
tlio  vossol,  all  roady  lor  sea,  lay  at  anchor,  when  a  storm  arose, 
wliicii  aniiihilatctj  all  their  hopes. 

Some  Kiitrlish  tishinijf  vessels,  escorted  l»v  Arufal,  whose  name  in 
Virj^nian  annals  is  int'anioiis  tor  fraud  aixl  injustice,  wore  driven 
on  the  cojust  of  Maine,  and  learning  that  a  lOurojK'an  settlement 
was  just  bei^un  on  the  island,  resolved  to  surprise  it.  At  the  mo- 
Uieut  of  their  arnval,  the  French  party  were  divided  :  l)e  In  Saus- 
saye  and  most  of  his  men,  with  the  Fathers,  were  in  the  fort.  La 
Motte,  Brother  (Jilbeil,  and  the  rest,  ou  the  vessel.  Seeinj^  the 
Enirlish  vessels,  to  the  number  of  ten,  bearini;  «lown  f»n  hiiu,  Lii 
Motte  prepared  to  defend  Inmself;  but  as  the  first  volley  of  the 
\'iri;inians  wounded  many  on  boai'd,  he  surieinlerevl,  tindinc^  liim- 
self  tt)0  weak  to  co[)e  with  the  enemy.  Ar^'al  cami^  on  boai'd, 
seized  De  la  Saussaye's  papers,  and  summoned  tlie  fort  to  surren- 
der, which  it  did.  In  the  eiiLiitij^ement  Urother  (Jilbert  du  Tliet 
liad  been  mortally  wounded  ;  he  was  taken  ashore  and  expired  the 
next  dav,  after  havini;  received  the  last  sacraments,  with  meat  con- 
stancy,  resignation,  and  devotion  in  the  cause  of  God  for  the  great 
favor  accorded  him.  He  was  buried  at  the  f(X>t  of  the  cross,  and 
with  him  were  buried  the  hopes  of  the  mission. 

In  this  happy  death  Du  Thet's  fondest  wish  was  realized,  for, 
says  Biard,  "  on  departing  from  Ilonfleur,  in  the  presence  of  the 
whole  crew,  he  raised  his  hands  and  eyes  to  heaven,  praying  God 
that  he  might  never  return  to  Fiance,  but  might  die  laboring  for 
the  conquest  of  souls,  and  the  salvation  of  the  Indians."* 

Argal  resolved  to  break  up  the  whole  establishment :  he  ac- 
cused Saussaye  of  piracy,  and  as  he  could  not  produce  his  com- 
mission, threatened  to  hang  him.  His  fii-st  intention  was  to  carry 
all  ctff,  but  he  finally  allowed  La  Motte  and  some  others  to  depart, 

*  Biard,  Kelatiou  dc  la  Nouvelle  France,  de  ses  terres,  naturel  du  pais 
et  de  ses  habitants,  etc.  p.  235. 


iU 


AMEKICAN    CATHOLIC   MlSfcilONS. 


li  ' 


aixl  iii.ikt'  their  way,  as  lu-st  they  mi,i(ht,  to  Tort  lloyal.  Tlic 
ivst,  iiicludiiij^  Father  l>ianl  and  two  otlior  .Ifsuits,  he  carried  oil' 
to  \'ir;(iina,  althoui^h  lie  had  |troiiiised  to  seinl  them  to  Franco. 
The  (Jovcnior  of  N'iry^iiiia,  Sir  Thomas  l)ale,  on  tlio  represt'ntations 
of  Argal,  was  ahuut  to  j»ut.  them  to  deatli  as  |)irat«'s,  hut,  loarniiiLf 
tlic  trutli,  sent  Ariral  l>ack  to  destroy  Port  Jiovai.  ile  took  his 
prisoners  with  him,  and  heiiiLj  informed  by  sonic  of  tlio  Kreneh  at. 
tliat  post  that  r»iard  was  a  Spaniard,  resolved  to  have  liiin  executed 
under  the  Knglish  pi-nal  laws;  hut  on  his  return  his  vessels  were 
scattered  by  a  storm  :  that  iK-arini;  the  missionaries  was  driven  tt» 
the  Azores,  and  there,  in  a  Catholic  port,  without  a  coriiniission, 
the  captain  found  himself  at  the  mercy  of  Father  l>':iid,  who,  far 
from  seeking  to  avencje  his  wrongs,  made  no  appeal  to  the  l*ortu- 
guose  authorities.  The  vessel  finally  reached  England,  whence 
]iiard  returned  to  France.* 

St.  Savior's  was  now  a  ruin — the  broken  cross  alone  remained 
above  the  body  of  J)u  Thet  to  guard  that  land  for  Catholicity  ;  all 
was  silent — no  hymn,  no  voice  of  prayer;  no  savages  reclaimed  for 
iiod  and  society  were  gathered  there.  Thus  the  first  Abnaki  njis- 
sion  was  crushed  in  its  very  cradle  by  men  who  founded  a  colony 
in  which  the  gospel  was  never  announced  to  the  aborigines.f 


*  Peter  Binrd  was  a  native  of  Grenoble,  in  the  south  of  France.  Ho 
was  a  man  of  learning  and  ability.  After  his  return  to  France  li>  'oceanic 
professor  of  thcolofry  at  Lyons,  and  fiiuvUy  died  at  Avignon,  on  the  17th  of 
November,  1<)22,  being  at  the  time  a  chaplain  in  the  army. 

Enemond  Masse  was  born  in  ir)T-i,  and  entered  the  Society  of  Jesus  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two.  "When  sent  to  America  he  was  pocius  of  Father  Cotoii, 
the  celebrated  Provincial.  After  CbCiiping  from  Argal  he  returned  to  France, 
nnd  did  all  in  his  power  to  restore  the  mission,  exciting  the  zeal  of  the 
younger  members  of  his  order  by  his  description  of  the  vast  field  from 
which  he  had  been  torn.  In  1625,  the  mission  was  ro&tored,  and  he  to  his 
joy  returned  to  Canada,  where  he  labored  unremittingly  among  tlio  Algon- 
quins  and  Montagnais,  till  Quebec  was  taken  in  1620,  and  he  once  more  be- 
came a  prisoner.  In  1633,  however,  he  was  again  sent  to  Canada,  and  re- 
mained till  his  death,  May  12,  1646. 

t  Champlain,  liv.  iii.  ch.  i.  (cd.  1603,  p.  98);  .louvency,  Hist.  Soc.  Jcsu, 


FHKXCH    MISSIONS. 


135 


Sonic  years  nfl»r  tlio  ih'soiation  of  St.  Savior's,  .soino  liccollccts, 
or  lu'f'ornu'tl  Franciscans,  of  the  jM'ovinco  of  A<niitainc,  l»cpm  (in 
iOl!))  a  niis.-tion  in  Acadi.i.  Tlicir  ciiicf  station  was  on  tlic  St. 
JoliiTs  Kivor,  and,  accordini;  to  I'atlicr  I.o  Clon'q,  tlicy  lu'ijan  cer- 
tain Indian  missions,  for  wliicli  lie  retei's  to  tlicir  own  |»uMislicd 
acconnt,  n  work  of  wlii<;li  no  coiiy  is  known  to  exist  in  this  coun- 
trv  or  tho  large  libraries  of  Kurope.  Wo  know  merely  that'ono 
of  their  ninnbor,  Father  Sebastian,  visite<l  (>2***''"^tN  »"*'  snbse- 
qiieiitly  died  of  hunnfcr  or  by  accident  while  on  bis  way  fn)m  Mis- 
con  to  I'ort  Koyal ;  and  that  in  IG'24,  three  other  Fatheix,  .lames 
de  la  Foyer,  I^ouis  Fontinier,  and  .lames  Cardon,  abandoned  their 
mission,  and  joineil  the  iiect)llects  of  Quebec  ;*  but  three  Uecollects 
were  sent  to  I.a  Tour's  colony  by  Tufet  in  1G.30,  and  these  were 
still  at  their  old  posts  in  1G33,  to  serve  the  French,  and  convert 
the  Indians.! 

Some  Capuchins,  who  wore  afterwards  stationed  on  the  coast 
as  chaplains  to  Fiench  ])osts,  had  a  convent  on  the  Penobscot,  and 
a  hospice  on  the  Kennebec,  but  we  are  not  aware  that  they  ever 
attemj)ted  any  Indian  missions.| 

Many  veai-s  after  the  eti'ort  of  liiard,  an  accident  recalled  the 
Jesuits  to  that  coast.  In  1042,  tliere  existed  on  the  banks  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  a  reduction  or  missionary  station,  St.  Joseph's  or 
Siller}-,  founded  by  the  pious  and  excellent  commander,  Noel  r3ru- 
lart  de  Sillery,  where  the  Jesuits  had  gathered  many  Algonquins  and 
Montagnais,  who,  from  their  love  of  the  faith,  gave  up  their  wan- 
diM-ing  life  to  till   tho   ground,  and  reside  near  their  pastoi's.§ 


p.  324 ;  Lcscarbot,  663-631 ;  De  Laet,  Nov.  Orbia,  59 ;  Rel.  1646,  p.  37  ;  Bres- 
pani,  Kelation  abregec,  174;  Litt.  Ann.  1611-3. 

*  Le  Clcrc,  EstabliBsement  de  la  Foi,  vol.  i.  ch.  5. 

+  Cliamplain  (ed.  1632),  p.  282. 

X  C'hiirlcv.  i.  435;  Rcis,  1646,  50;  Crcuxius,  483;  Jesuit  Journal. 

?  It  owed  its  name  and  foundation  to  Noel  Krulart  do  Sillery,  Knight  of 
Malta,  who,  after  a  brilliant  life  at  the  court  of  Louis  XII.,  bcoanic  a  model 
of  sanctity  after  the  jubilee  of  1625,  and  embracing  the  clerical  state  six 


I 


186 


AMf:iUCAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


1 


Among  the  noblest  of  the  neophytes,  who  renewed  at  Silleiy  all 
tlie  puiity  and  sanctity  of  the  primitive  churcli,  and  made  it  the 
elysium  of  Canada,  was  Charles  Meiaskwat.  In  1642,  some  Abna- 
kis  were  taken  by  a  party  of  pagan  Algonquins,  and  thongh  well 
known  not  to  be  enemies,  and  easily  recognized  by  their  language 
as  members  of  the  same  great  Algic  family,  were  treated  with  every 
])os5ible  cruelty.  To  lescue  them,  Charles  and  Nicolet,  an  early 
explorer  of  the  west,  started  in  all  luuste  from  Sillery :  Nico)et  per- 
ished in  a  rapid,  Meiaskwat  reached  his  pagan  countrymen  in  time 
to  save  their  victims,  and  brought  them  back  in  holy  triumph  to 
Sillery,  where  then  existed  a  Hospital  of  tlie  Nuns,  now  at  Quebec. 
Here  the  poor  Abnakis  were  received,  and  soon  cured  of  all  their 
wounds.  When  sufficiently  recovered,  one  set  out  for  his  native 
village,  armed,  equipped,  and  supplied  with  provisions,  and,  more- 
over, not  alone,  but  attended  by  Charles  Meiaskwat.  That  excel- 
lent man  reached  the  Kennebec,  visited  the  English  at  Coussinoc, 
now  Augusta,  and  everywhere  so  extolled  the  greatness  of  the 
Christian  doctrine  and  its  sublime  promises,  that  many  were  filled 
with  a  desire  to  know  it  thoroughly,  and  see  it  in  its  practical 
workings.  One  sagamo,  or  chief,  accompanied  Meiaskwat  to 
Quebec,  and,  after  instruction,  embraced  the  faith.*  Othei's  fol- 
lowed his  example,  and  in  a  few  yeai*s  each  Abnaki  village  could 
count  several  Christians.  At  last  two  sagamos  came  on  Assump- 
tion-day to  ask  for  Black-gowns  to  instmct  the  tribe.  They  were 
joyfully  and  graciously  received  by  the  governor,  Montmagny,  a 
knight  of  Malta,  and  zealous  for  the  spread  of  religion.  •  As  soon 
as  the  peace  with  the  Iroquois,  in  1646,  gave  the  Jesuits  a  breath- 
ing-spell, Father  Gabriel  Druillettes  was  sent  to  the  Kennebec,  at 

years  later,  gave  himself  entirely  to  good  works.    Sillery  was  begun  in  1637. 
Bressani,  p.  300. 

*  Relation  de  ce  qui  s'est  passe  dans  les  missions  de  la  Nouvellc  Franco 
es  nnnces,  1642-3,  p.  15-70.  These  volumes  are  the  annual  reports  of  tlic 
Superiors  at  Quebec,  and  will  be  quoted  constantly.  See  O'Callaghau's 
"  Jesuit  Relations."  _ 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


137 


the  same  time  that  Father  Isaac  Jogiies  was  sent  to  tlio  Mohawk.*" 
As  this  new  mission  had  been  iisked  for  on  the  feast  of  that  name* 
it  took  the  title  of  the  xVssumption.f  Tlie  missionary  set  out  on  the 
29th  of  August,  attended  by  Noel  Negabamat  and  a  j^arty  of  In- 
dians, and  soon  reached  the  Kennebec,  though  the  journey  was  one 
of  pain  and  hardship.  All  gathered  around  him  with  joyful  wel- 
comes, for  the  Abnakis  are  a  docile  people,  and  quite  susceptible 
of  goo<.l  impressions.  Further  acquaintance  confirmed  their  esteem  ; 
the  missionary  shared  their  poor  fare  without  a  sign  of  discontent, 
bore  every  hardship  in  travelling  with  gayety  and  cheeifulness,  and 
in  their  hour  of  plenty  took  his  own  portion  to  the  sick.  To  learn 
their  dialect  was  his  first  care,  and  in  two  or  three  months  he  was 
better  able  to  convei"se  than  Algonquins  who  had  been  long 
amongst  them.J 

God  gave  a  wonderful  blessing  to  the  instructions  of  F.  Druil- 
lettes :  the  Abnakis  listened  with  joy,  and  many  sought  baptism, 
but  the  missionary  prudently  deferred  it,  granting  that  precious 
boon  only  to  the  dying.  A  league  above  the  p]nglish  post  the  na- 
tives had  built  him  a  chapel  of  boards.  This  was  his  central  sta- 
tion, and  here,  after  many  instructions,  he  called  upon  then-,  as  a 
preliminary  to  their  reception  as  catechumens,  to  do  three  thi  iigs — 
1st,  To  renounce  intoxicating  liquors;  2d,  To  live  in  peace  with 
their  neighbors ;  and  3d,  To  give  up  their  medicine  bags,  drums, 
and  other  supei^stitious  objects.     To  these  demands  they  all  agreed. 

*  Journal  of  the  Superior  of  tlie.Tosnits,  MS.  The  stitne  resolution  in  coun- 
cil irave  birth  to  the  Iroquois  and  Abnaki  missions — both  still  in  existence. 

t  Kclation,  lG-i6. 

X  As  a  specimen  of  their  languafrc  we  annex  the  Our  Father,  as  given  l)y 
the  Picpusian  Edmund  Deinilier,  Ann.  Prop.  viii.  lyT  : 

''Keniitanksena  spomkik  ayan  waiwaiselmoguatch  ayiliwisian  amantai 
pahriwai  witawaikai  ketepelta  inohauganeek  aylikitankouak  ketclailtanio- 
liuniraii  spomkik  tali  yo  nampikik  paitchi  kik  tankouataitchc  n)auiilinai  yo 
paimi  gliistrak  daitaskiskouai  aipouiiuiia  yopa  hatehi  anaihail  tama  wihaikai 
kaissikakau  wihiohiikaipan  aliuiona  kisi  anaihailtamakukaik  kaikauwia  kai- 
taipanik  mosak  kaita  litehi  kitawikaik  taini)amohoutohi  saghihouncminamai 
ou  lahami^takai  saghihousouaminni  niamaitchikill,  Nialcst. 


138 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


The  English,  witnesses  of  the  good  h';  Juid  ah'eady  accomplished, 
hailed  F.  Druillettes  as  a  true  friend  of  humanity,  although  at  tlui 
moment  Plymouth  was  passing  a  cruel  law  against  liis  order  and 
profession..  Father  Ignatius  de  Paris,  supeiior  of  the  Capuchins  ou 
the  Kennebec  below,  met  him  with  a  warm  welcome.  When  tin; 
Indians  went  to  Moose  Head  Lake  to  hunt,  Druillettes  accompanied 
them ;  his  catechumens  gathered  around  him,  and  though  tli«.' 
medicine-men  declared  that  the  followers  of  the  Black-gown  wouM 
be  taken  by  the  Iroquois  and  find  no  deer,  they  returned  safe  and 
well,  loaded  with  venison,  lie  continued  his  labors  and  \4sits  to 
sick  and  well  till  the  month  of  May,  the  period  fixed  for  his  return. 
Then  he  announced  his  departure.  A  general  grief  prevailed. 
"Thou  grievest  our  minds  to  talk  of  thy  going,  and  the  uncertaint\ 
of  thy  return."  "  We  must  say,"  said  othei^s,  "  that  Father  Gabriel 
does  not  love  us :  he  does  not  cai'c,  though  we  shall  die,  as  ho 
abandons  us."  The  grief  of  the  missionaiy  was  not  less  h,,  docile 
to  the  voice  of  obedience,  he  set  out  with  a  party,  and  .  1  id 
Quebec  in  June.* 

Charmed  by  tlie  happiness  they  had  enjoyed,  the  Abnakis  sent 
in  September  for  their  missionary,  and  again  in  the  twofol'jwinijf 
years ;  but  were  unable  to  obtain  him,  so  limited  was  the  number 
of  missionaries  for  the  stations  then  under  their  charge.f  In  1C50, 
their  assiduity  and  fervor  was  rewarded  by  success,  and  Dniillettes 
set  out  with  a  party  on  the  last  day  of  August,  although  just  re- 
turned from  a  long  wintering  at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
and  spent  with  fatigue.     Besides  his  missionary  duties,  he  was  now 


i  i 

I    :! 


1 


*  Relation,  1647,  p.  176;  Journal  Superiors.  J. 

+  The  opposition  of  the  Capuchins  was  another  reason.  They  had  received 
hill)  kindly,  and,  in  1648,  Father  Coamas  dc  Mante,  the  Superior,  wrote  to 
cnoous-afro  him  (Relation,  1650-1,  p.  GS);  yet,  by  an  entry  in  the  Journal  of 
the  Superior  of  the  Jesuits,  it  is  stated  that  the  Abnakis,  who  came  July 
3-4,  1647,  brou<?ht  a  letter  from  the  Capuchins,  asking  that  he  should  not  re- 
turn, and  thoy  declined  for  that  reason.  Before  the  second  mission  of  Druil- 
lettes the  Capuchins  had  been  carried  oflf  by  De  la  Tour. 


FRENCn  MISSIONS. 


139 


I 


an  envoy  of  the  governor  of  Canada  to  the  New  England  colonies, 
^vllich  had  proposed  a  kind  of  union,  to  which  the  French  gov- 
cinor  acceded,  provided  the  New  Englandei's  would  aid  Canada 
ngainst  the  Iroquois.  On  his  way  to  the  Kennebec  he  sution'<l 
greatly :  the  guides,  in  attempting  to  shorten  the  route,  lost  it,  and 
the  party  wandered  about  till  their  provisions  were  all  consumed, 
'riifv  ascribed  their  final  success  in  hunting  only  to  the  prayers  of 
! Muillettes,  who  otl'ered  up  the  holy  sacrifice  to  draw  down  the 
mercy  of  God,  and  obtained,  as  he  often  did,  relief  which  seems 
truly  miraculous.  That  good  missionary  sutiered  not  only  from 
want,  but  also  from  the  brutality  and  ill  treatment  of  an  Etchemin 
Indian  in  the  party,  who,  nursed  by  Father  Druillettes  in  sickness, 
repaid  his  charity  by  the  blackest  ingratitude.  At  last,  after  four- 
and-twenty  days  of  hardship,  they  reached  Norridgewalk,  the  chief 
Abnaki  village.  All  the  tiibe  were  forthwith  in  motion,  and,  amid 
a  volley  of  fireamis,  the  chief  embraced  the  missionaiy,  crying : 
"  I  see  well  that  the  Great  Spirit,  who  rules  in  the  heavens,  deigns 
to  look  favorably  on  us,  since  he  sends  us  back  our  patriarch." 
Universal  joy  prevailed  :  men,  women,  children,  all  sought  to  ex- 
press their  happiness  at  the  missionary's  return.  A  banquet  was 
spread  in  every  cabin,  and  he  was  forced  to  visit  all.  "  We  have 
thee,  at  last,"  they  cried ;  "  thou  art  our  father,  our  patriarch,  our 
countryman.  Thou  livest  like  us,  thou  dwellest  with  us,  thou  art 
an  Abnaki  like  us.  Thou  bringest  back  joy  to  all  the  countiy. 
We  had  thought  of  leaving  this  land  to  seek  thee,  for  many  have 
died  in  thy  absence.  We  were  losing  all  hopes  of  reaching  heaven. 
Those  whom  thou  didst  instruct,  peifonued  all  they  had  learnt, 
but  their  heart  was  weaiy,  for  it  sought  and  could  not  find  thee." 

On  every  side  he  heard  gentle  reproaches :  here  a  father  led  him 
to  the  cross-covered  grave  of  his  children,  whom  he  had  baptized 
in  death,  yet  feared  that  ho  had  erred,  and  that  they  would  not 
enjoy  eternal  Ufe. 

After  giving  a  few  days  to  these  joys  and  sorrows,  Father  Di*uil- 


140 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


I 


lettes  descended  to  Coussinoc,  and  announced  to  the  English  agent 
his  poHtical  mission,  and,  liaving  ])aid  occasional  visits  to  his  flock, 
was  at  last,  in  November,  coasting  along  past  Cai)e  Ann  to  Boston 
harbor.  Amid  the  homes  of  the  Puritans,  the  son  of  Loyola  wa^^ 
well  received,  and  at  Koxbury,  Elliott,  devoted  like  himself  to  the 
conversion  of  the  Indians,*  invited  him  to  pass  the  winter  under  his 
hospitable  roof;  but  rest  was  not  a  part  of  tlie  Jesuit's  life.  Ilis 
Abnakis  called  him,  and  by  February  he  was  back  among  them, 
and  engaged  in  his  missionary  toils.f  "  In  spite  of  all  that  is  pain- 
ful and  crucifvinfj  to  nature  in  these  missions,  there  are  also,"  he 
writes,  "  gi-eat  joys  and  consolations.  More  plenteous  than  I  can 
express  are  those  I  felt,  to  see  that  the  seed  of  the  gospel  which  I 
had  scattered  here  four  veare  ago,  in  land  which  for  so  many  cen- 
turies  had  produced  only  thorns  and  brambles,  already  bore  fruit 
so  worthy  of  the  Lord." 

The  gieat  mass  of  his  former  catechumens  had  persevered,  and 
had  communicated  what  they  had  learnt  to  others :  a  few  months' 
instruction  prepared  them  for  baptism,  which  he  could  now  give 
without  scruple,  after  the  trial  which  they  had  passed.  In  June, 
1651,  he  returned  for  two  weeks  to  Quebec,  and  after  a  second 
official  visit  to  ]3oston,  continued  his  labors  on  the  Kennebec  till 
March,  1G52,  when,  after  much  hardship  and  suftering,  he  reached 
Quebec.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  devotedness  of  the  Indians  to 
their  missionary.  When  an  Enjoflishman  accused  Druillettes  of 
speaking  against  his  nation,  the  Indian  chiefs  repaired  to  Coussinoc, 
and  declaring  the  accusation  to  be  false,  warned  them  not  to  attack 
their  patriarch,  even  in  words.  Extolling  his  sanctity  and  devoted- 
ness, they  exclaimed  :  "  Know  that  he  is  now  of  our  nation  ;  we 


*  It  is  wortliy  of  remark  that  tlie  Indians,  to  whom  Elliott  first  preached, 
wore  not  iirnorant  of  Christiunity,  and  tlie  New  England  missionary  ascribed 
the  knowledge  they  possessed  to  some  French  priest,  shipwrecked  on 
the  coast.     See  his  Life  by  Convers  Francis. 

+  Druillette's  Narre  d'nn  voyage,  &c.,  MS.,  New  York  Hist.  Coll.  I,  ii". 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


141 


I 


have  adopted  him  into  the  tribe,  and  regard  liim  as  the  wisest  ot" 
our  chiefs;  we  respect  him  as  the  ambassador  ot*  Jesus.  Wlio- 
cvcr  attacks  him,  attacks  all  the  Abnaki  tribe.''* 

The  faith  had  thus  been  phuited  among  the  Abnakis ;  but  the 
destruction  of  the  Ilurons,  the  death  and  recall  of  manv  of  the  mis- 
sionaries,  rendered  it  impossible  to  send  a  successor  of  DruilK'ttes  to 
the  Kennebec.  In  1G50,  lie  was  sent,  with  Father  (Jarreau,  to 
found  a  mission  on  Lake  Superior ;  but  when  that  project  was 
ruined  bv  the  death  of  (iarreau,  slain  near  Montreal  bv  the  mur- 
(l(;rous  Inxjuois,  Father  Druillettes  was  again  sent  to  .Nhiine,  and 
wintered  with  his  neophytes;  but  in  the  following  spring  took  a 
tinal  leave  of  them,  and,  as  we  shall  subseijuently  see,  spent  most 
of  ills  remaining  yeai*s  in  far  distant  missions.f 

Two  yeare  after,  when  the  holy  Bishop  Laval  and  the  veteran 
superior  Jerome  Lalemant  gave  a  new  impulse  to  the  Indian  mis- 
sions, Fathers  of  the  Society  of  Jesus  were  again  sent  to  the  lodges 
of  the  Abnakis  to  break  to  them  the  bread  of  life ;  but  these  mis- 
sions were  not  permanent,  and  for  years  no  tidings  reach  us. 


*  Relation,  1651-2,  p.  2,  3.     Josuit  Journal,  Murcli  30,  1652. 

+  Relation,  1656-7.  Father  Gabriel  Druillettes  was  born  in  the  year  1593. 
lie  embarked  at  Kochellc  with  Garreau  and  Chabanel  in  May,  1643,  and  after 
;t  >tonny  voyage  arrived  on  the  15th  of  August.  Sent  the  next  year  to  winter 
with  the  Algonquins,  he  completely  lost  his  sight,  but  recovered  it  in  a  most 
woiulerful  manner  while  offering  up  Mass  for  liis  recovery.  From  this  time 
he  was  constantly  with  the  Montagnais,  the  Algonquins,  Kristineaux,  Papina- 
ciiois,  and  Abnakis.  In  1656,  he  set  out  for  the  west  with  Garreau,  but  the 
mission  was  defeated.  In  1661,  accompanied  by  Dablon,  he  attempted  to  roach 
Hudson's  Bay  by  land,  but  was  compelled  to  return.  After  instructing  Mar- 
quette, in  1666  he  followed  him  to  the  west,  and,  though  broken  by  age  and 
intirmity,  labored  at  or  near  Sault  St.  Mary's  till  167l>.  He  then  returned  to 
^iuobcc.  and  died  there  on  the  8th  of  April,  16S1,  at  the  age  of  88,  nearly 
lorty  of  which  he  had  spent  on  the  Canada  mission.  A  man  of  fifty  when  ho 
came,  he  sutfered  more  than  most  oven  of  his  companions  ;  "  while  his  extreme 
zeal  for  the  conversion  of  souls,  and  the  great  talent  God  had  given  for  laii- 
ffiuifircs,  made  him  one  of  our  best  missionaries,"  says  a  contemporary;  and 
<  harlevoix,  after  relating  one  of  the  many  miracles  ascribed  to  him,  says  that 
('od  had  rendered  him  powerful  in  word  and  work.  For  his  Life,  see  I'aris 
l>'^o.,  Boston,  iii.  21 ;  N.  Y.  Hibt.  Soe.  II.  iii ;  Charl.  i.  310,  and  the  Relations. 


CHAPTER    III. 


ABNAKl    MISSION (CONTINUED.) 


Abnokls  at  Sillery— Bigot  founds  the  CliaudiOrc  mission— Tlic  Bipots  in  Maine— Tliury 
at  IVnobscot — Fatlier  Simon  on  tlio  St  John's — Fervor  of  tlio  Neopliytos — Tiie  .li'suit.s 
— Ualo  and  liis  mission — Deatli  of  Thury— New  mission  of  St.  Francis— Attempts  on 
liuio's  life— Mission  of  Bocancour — Wrongs  of  the  Indian — Cruel  murder  of  Hale. 

Ox  the  failure  of  the  ecclesiastical  autlionties  to  keep  up  regular 
pastoi-s  for  the  converted  Indians  in  Maine,  the  Jesuits  sought  to 
draw  the  Christian  Abnakis  to  Sillery,  which  was  now  greatly 
reduced  by  war  and  sickness.  Here  the  men  of  the  Kennebci; 
mingled  Avith  the  surviving  Algonquins,  and  soon  made  it  an 
Abnaki  mission.  As  the  soil  was  nearly  exhausted.  Father  Janics 
Bigot  looked  out  for  a  new  site :  a  charitable  lady  in  France,  the 
Marchioness  de  Bauche,  became  the  foundress ;  and  a  charming 
spot  was  purchased  in  1G83  at  the  falls  of  the  Chaudiere,  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  cataracts  in  Canada,  where  the  mission  of  St. 
Francis  de  Sales  soon  rose.  Many  settled  here,  and  at  last  all 
removed  to  it  in  1685,  with  their  missionaries,  Fathers  Bigot  mihI 
Gassot ;  and  Sillery,  which  had  been  for  nearly  half  a  centuiy  a 
refuge  of  the  Algic  church,  was  deserted.*  In  spite  of  many 
accidents,  the  destmction  of  their  new  church,  the  loss  of  their 
chapel  furniture  and  other  misfortunes,  this  mission  flourished  and 
amply  repaid  the  zeal  of  the  missionaries,!  who,  however,  soon  had 
to  struijorle  with  a  sickness  which  desolated  their  flock.    The  tender 

*  Tiic  walls  of  the  chapel  of  Sillery  were  still  standing  thirty  years  atro; 
ami  the  foundations  of  that  edifloc,  the  hospital,  and  niis.sion-house  may  still 
be  found  on  the  ground  occupied  by  the  olKcos  and  sheds  of  Mr.  Le  Mtsii- 
ricr,  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  opposite  the  residence  of  Judge  Caron. — ForhMul, 
Notes  surLes  Rcgistrcs  do  Notro  Dame  do  Ciucbeo,  p.  28. 

\  Letter  of  F.  Jus.  Bigot,  October  6,  1<5S4. 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


143 


piety,  zeal,  and  desire  of  amendment  in  the  Indians,  render  the 
account  of  the  Fathers  most  touching.* 

About  the  time  of  this  removal,  or  shortly  prior  to  it,  the  two 
Fathers  Bigot  had  attempted  to  restore  the  mission  of  Father 
I  )ruillettes,  but  were  opposed  by  the  Fishery  company,  which  had  a 
monopoly  of  the  coast,  (iovornor  Denonvillc,  however,  saw  the 
injustice  of  yielding  to  the  avarice  of  these  merchants,  and  in  a 
incnioir  to  the  court  insisted  on  restoring  the  Jesuit  misvsion.f  Tn 
1G88,  Father  Bigot  re''-"»T^d  his  laboi"s  on  the  Kennebec,  while 
Tliuiy,  a  priest  of  the  dicoese  of  Quebec,  a  man  of  ability  and  tact, 
f^ooii  gathered  around  him  a  numerous  and  fervent  band  of  neo- 
jiliytes  at  Panawaniskc,  on  the  I'enobscot,  under  the  protection  of 
tile  Baron  St.  Castine,  find  not  long  after,  the  Recollect,  Father 
Simon,  governed  a  more  distant  mission  at  Medoktek,  near  the 
mouth  of  the  St.  John's.  Though  missions  were  thus  established  in 
all  the  Abnaki  towns,  new  difliculties  ai'ose.  Their  territory  was 
a  disputed  ground  between  the  French  and  pjiglish,  and  the  Abna- 
kis,  attached  to  the  fonner  by  a  common  faith  and  former  acts  of 
kindness  and  good-will,  were  embittered  against  the  latter  by 
wrongs  and  oppression  sustained  at  their  hands.  War  soon  broke 
out,  and  the  missionaries,  often  in  jeopardy,  ivmained  manfully  at 
their  posts,  inculcating  mercy  in  wai',  as  well  as  every  other  Christian 
viitue.  Sometimes  they  accompanied  the  war-parties  as  chaplains, 
at  others  they  remained  with  the  women  and  children.  We  may 
judge  of  the  fervor  of  their  neophytes  by  the  fact  that  when  the 
braves  of  Panawaniske  set  out  to  attack  Fort  l*enKpiid,in  1 089,  they 
all  approached  the  sacraments  with  their  wives  and  children,  that 
the  latter  might  raise  pure  hands  to  heaven,  while  they  were  in 
deadly  combat  with  the  enemies  of  their  race  and  faith.  l)uring 
the  whole  period  of  the  expedition  a  jwrpetual  rosaiy  w  as  estab- 
lished, not  even  the  time  of  meals  interrupting  so  edifying  an 
exercise.J 


*  Letter  of  same,  1685.         t  Charlcv.  ii.  376.         t  C'harlev.  i.  -llfi. 


144 


AMERICAN   iJATlIOLIC   MISSIONS. 


Such  w{Ls  the  flock  of  tlic  excellent  Thiin',  and  the  Indians  of 
the  Jesuit  stations  were  not,  wo  are  told,  at  all  inferior  in  piety  and 
devotion  to  the  neophytes  of  the  zealous  priest  of  the  seminary  of 
Quebec.  Besides  the  two  Bigots,  scions  of  the  noble  house  of  the 
Viscounts  Bigot,  there  labored  fioni  time  to  time  on  these  Jesuit 
missions.  Father  Julian  Binncteau,  Joseph  Aubery,  Peter  de  l;i 
CliHsse,  Sebastian  Hale,  Stephen  Lauvergat,  and  Loyard ;  but  of 
their  labors,  their  trials,  their  hardships  and  success,  time  has  spared 
us  few  details. 

Father  Rale,  long  the  terror  of  the  New  Englanders,  is  the  best 
known  of  these.  Stationed  first  at  the  Chaudiore  village,  then  in 
the  Illinois  country,  we  find  him  from  1095  at  Norridgewalk  en- 
gaged in  duties  which  were  his  only  thought,  till  his  death  satis- 
fied a  political  hatred.  The  site  of  his  mission,  now  called  Indian 
Old  Point,  is  a  sequestered  spot  on  the  Kennebec,  where  nature,  in 
all  her  charms,  still  arrests  the  attention  of  the  traveller.  Rale  is 
not  the  apostle  of  the  Kennebec.  At  his  ariival  the  Abnakis  wore 
almost,  if  not  quite,  all  converted,  and  had  a  small  but  well-built 
church.  For  a  part  of  the  year,  the  missionary  and  his  flock  re- 
mained at  the  village  ;  but  when  the  crops  had  been  sown,  thov 
repaired  to  the  seacoast  to  fish  :  a  travelling  tent,  like  Israel's  tab- 
ernacle, being  their  chapel  on  the  way,  and  a  bark  cabin  receiving 
it  on  the  shore.  In  like  maimer  the  winter  was  spent  in  hunting, 
either  on  the  coast  or  in  the  mountains. 

Soon  after  beginning  his  labors  here.  Rale  beheld  a  new  tribe 
approach  his  mission.  The  Amalingans  came  to  ascertain  the 
truth  of  what  they  had  lieard.  Struck  by  all  that  they  saw 
at  the  mission,  they  solicited  instruction,  listened  to  his  teach- 
ing, and  embraced  the  faith  when,  at  the  next  season,  he  visited 
their  camp.  Thenceforth  they  and  the  Abnakis  seem  to  have  coa- 
lesced. 

On  the  third  of  June,  1G99,  Thury  died  among  his  forest  chil- 
dren, I'egretted  bv  all  who  knew  him.     His  loss  wa.s  felt  to  bo  a 


I'llKXCIl    MISSIOXS. 


145 


I) 


s»'Vero  blow,  not  onlv  on  accontit  of  his  laboi's  as  a  z<*alous  and  al)lo 
nii.^sionarv,  but  also  of  tlie  credit  whidi  his  virtue  and  disinti'iostod- 
Mt'ss  gave  tlio  mission.* 

TiiujT  was  succeeded  at  Penobscot  by  ^[essrs.  Gauhn  and  Ti;i- 
p'ot,  both  of  the  Seminary  of  the  Foieiun  Missions,  who  were  in 
JVnobscot  till  1708.  In  that  year  the  mission  was  transferred  to 
tiie  Jesuits,  who  thus  had  the  direction  of  all  the  missions  in 
Maine.f 

Meanwhile  the  mission  on  the  St.  Lawrence  flourished  under  the 
care  of  its  founders,  the  Uiu^ots  ;  i»utas  the  location  on  the  bjinks 
of  the  Chaudiere  was  found  inconvenient,  the  Abnakis,  altera  res- 
idence of  ten  or  twelve  years  at  that  beautiful  and  most  rf»mantic 
spot,  removed  in  1700  ib  the  spot  which  they  still  occupy,  J?ivin<^ 
it  the  name  of  their  patron  saint,  Francis  de  Sales.J  This  villafi^e, 
in  conseouence  of  the  v.ar;-,  ?oon  increased  bv  emiijfration  from 
Maine,  and  is  that  which  poured  the  St.  Francis* Indians  on  the 
New  England  frontier. 

We  come  down  now  to  the  war  of  l7o.'i,  a  contest  between 
Kiii^land  and  P'rance,  which  involved  their  colonies  in  a  desolatinij 
war.  New  England,  which  had  just  passed  an  act  condenming 
the  CathoHc  missionaries  to  imjjrisonment  for  life,  sought  their 
mediation  to  obtain  neutrality  on  the  part  of  the  Abnakis.  Fail- 
ing in  this,  they  resolved  to  make  them  atone  for  jdl,  and  sought 


*  Peter  Thury  w.as  born  at  Bayoiix,  ordained  priest  at  Quebec,  December 
'21,  1077,  and  soon  became  a  member  of  the  Seminary  of  the  Foreiffu  Mis- 
sions. Manifestinff  a  ereat  desire  to  lal)or  among  tlu5  Indians,  he  was  sent 
by  Bisliop  Laval  to  Acadia  in  1084,  and,  after  oxplorintr  the  state  of  tho 
country,  befran  amission  at  St.  Croix  in  10^,'.  At  the  earnest  request  of  St. 
C'astinc  he  was  sent  to  tlie  Penobscot  in  lGs7,  and  thougli  removed,  it  is  said, 
for  a  time,  Anally  died  at  last  among  liis  neophytes,  as  stated  in  tlio  text. 
— Memoir  on  the  Acadian  Missions  of  the  Priests  of  tho  Foreign  Seminary  at 
tiuebf'c,  by  the  Kev.  E.  A.  Taschercau. 

+  Same  Memoir.  Mr.  Gaulin  reached  (.iucboc  in  September,  170-i,  with 
most  of  his  Indians,  who  returned  to  Maine  in  the  following  spring. 

t  De  la  Potherie,  i.  P>0'J  ;  Bouvart,  Mf.vnoir.     (Jcs.  Arcliives,  Canada.) 


146 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


pspccially  thf  blo»Ml  of  l{al<'.  In  I7<^5,ji  [tarty  ofXew  Englandoi-s 
under  C'a])tain  lliltou,  roaclaMl  Nurriilijewalk,  Itiirnt  tlio  churcli 
and  villa<^«',  and  profaning  (lie  sanctuary,  withdrew.  The  Indians 
woro  al>H'nt  at  the  time  oi'  this  valiant  attark,  but  on  their  return 
<|ui(kly  raised  a  bark  ehajK-l  to  replace  their  handsome  church. 
Soon  after,  their  beloved  missionaiy,  on  a  painful  journey,  fell  and 
broke  both  leijs.  On  his  recover}'  he  returned  to  liis  mission, 
though  doul)ly  exposed  to  danger,  for  the  English  had  oti'ered  a 
leward  fur  his  head,  and  used  evt-rv  effort  to  induce  the  Indians  to 
betray  him  ;  but  the  Abnakis  were  laithful,  and  all  the  expeditions 
against  this  mis>ion  failed.  The  peace  of  ITtrecht  in  1Y13  at  last 
restored  })eace,  but  ceded  that  territory  to  England.  On  this  somi> 
of  the  Abnakis  resolved  to  emigrati>,  and  ])roceeded  to  IkH'ancour 
on  the  St.  Lawrence  ;  the  greater  part,  however,  resolved  to  re- 
main, and  Father  Kale  prej)ared  to  rebuild  his  church.  As  r>os- 
ton  was  nearerthan  Quebec,  a  deputation  of  chiefs  went  to  ask 
for  workmen,  whom  they  promised  to  pay.  The  governor,  eager 
to  gain  them,  offered  to  rebuild  their  church  at  his  own  expense, 
if  they  would  dismiss  their  missionary,  and  take  one  of  his  choice. 
Indignant  at  this,  the  Indian  speaker  replied :  "  When  you  first 
came  here,  you  saw  me  long  K-tbre  the  French  governors,  but  nei- 
ther your  predecessore  nor  your  ministers  ever  spoke  to  me  of 
prayer  or  the  (.Jreat  Spirit.  They  saw  my  furs,  my  beaver  and 
moose  skins,  and  of  this  alone  they  thought ;  these  alone  they 
Bought,  and  so  eagerly  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  supply  theni 
enough.  When  I  had  much,  they  were  my  friends,  and  only  then. 
One  day  my  canoe  missed  the  route  ;  I  lost  my  path,  and  wan- 
dered a  long  way  at  random,  until  at  last  I  landed  near  Quebec, 
in  a  great  village  of  the  Algontpiins,  where  the  Black-gowns  were 
teaching.  Scarcely  had  I  arrived,  when  one  of  them  came  to  see 
me.  I  was  loaded  with  f'ui's,  but  the  Black-gown  of  France  dis- 
dained to  look  at  them :  he  spoke  to  me  of  the  Great  Spirit,  of 
heaven,  of  hell,  of  the  prayer,  which  is  the  only  way  to  reach 


:p 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


147 


lio.ivcn.  1  lieanl  liim  uitli  jdc.-isuri',  ainl  was  >(»  di-linlitt'tl  l.v  liis 
words,  that  I  ivinainod  in  tlio  village  near  him.  At  last  tiic  piaycr 
itlcascMl  iiK',  and  I  a^ked  to  ho  instructed  ;  I  solicited  baptism,  and 
received  it.  Then  I  returned  to  tlu;  lodges  of  my  trihe,  and  re- 
lated all  that  had  happened.  All  envied  my  iiappiness,  and  wished 
to  partake  it:  tliey,  too,  went  to  the  IJlack-LCowii  to  he  l>aptiz«.'d. 
'llius  iiave  the  French  acted.  Ilatl  you  s[)oken  to  uic  of  tiie  prayer 
us  soon  as  >ve  met,  I  should  now  Ix^  so  uidiai>|iy  as  to  pray  like 
vou,  for  I  could  not  havt*  told  wliether  your  ]>rayer  was  good  or 
bad.  Now  T  hold  to  the  prayer  of  thti  French  ;  I  agree  to  it ;  I 
shall  be  faithful  to  it,  even  until  the  earth  is  burnt  and  destroyed. 
Keep  your  men,  your  gohl,  and  your  minister  :  I  will  go  to  my 
l-i.Mifh  father."'  The  church  wjis  ac(!ordinglv  rebuilt  by  the 
French,  though  little  chapels  were  subsecpientiy  raised  by  English 
wDiknien  in  1721. 

This  p«'riod  <)f  peace  enabled  the  missionai'ies  in  the  various 
villages  to  resume  their  labors  without  further  fear  or  danger,  both 
in  Maine  and  Canada.  The  troubles  with  New  England  were 
not,  however,  at  an  end.  The  English  constantly  encroached,  and 
the  Indians  in  vain  <lemanded  a  reservation  lino.  This  was  re- 
tiwd.  At  a  conference  held  at  (leorgetown,  in  1717,  Governor 
Shute,  says  an  American  author,  evinced  "his  inferiority^  to  those 
whom  we  denominate  savages,  in  all  the  essential  qualities  of  a 
man,  in  vigor  of  sentiment,  force  of  eloquence,  in  politeness  of 
niatniei-s,"  and,  it  nuw  be  added,  in  honesty,  for  "  he  oflered  them 
a  liible  with  the  same  hand  with  which  he  grasped  their  lands." 
ITe  left  the  Rev.  Mr.  Baxter,  a  Protestant  clergyman,  at  Ports- 
nioulh,  to  begin  a  rival  mission,  but  with  all  his  zeal  the  new  mis- 
sionary, after  a  few  months'  trial,  failing  to  seduce  the  Catholics, 
auil  having  drawn  on  himself  a  controversy  with  liale,  abandoned 
th.'  unpromising  field,  and  returned  to  more  comfortable  quarters, 
whence  he  continued  to  argue  with  Rale  on  theology  and  Latin. 

Soon  at\er  this,  the  Indians  in  several  parts  were  seized  and  de- 


MS 


AMKIUCAN    C'ATIIOI.KJ   MISSIONS. 


f 


I".. 


s 


taiiicil,  Mini  .-iikiiIkt  w.'ir  s('<'iii«'il  iimninciit.  I'lillu-r  Tharlrvoix 
wrott.'  to  tlu'  LTovcniiiKiit  in  I'Vaiicf,  cariit'stlv  uiifiiiLf  tli»'  settle- 
iiierit  ol'  u  «l<'llhilo  l)(»uiitlai\.  "Tin;  least  delay,"  savs  he  ''iiiav 
lea«l  to  iirejtarable  ie.sult.s."  The  P'reiieli  i^fovermiieiit  wished  tn 
remove  the  Indians  to  Trinee  Kdward's,  hut  were  assured  hv  th.- 
Superior,  !)«•  la  Chasse,  that  tlit^  |»Ian  was  iinpracticahle.  Thf 
missions  were  meanwhile  surruun<led  hv  tlie  Kii'dish  :  several  lain- 
ilies  of  the  latter  were  near  Niirridu'ewallv,  and  Jiale  durst  not  op- 
])os«'  their  encroaeiiments.  Father  Lauverijat  at  I'anawanisko  was 
in  the  same  position,  under  the  very  cannon  of  Fort  remquitl.* 
Ill  si»ite,  however,  t>f  his  itrudeiiee.  Father  Kale  heeaine  ol»no.\i(»us 


i» 


1 


to  the  Kiiijlish,  who,  atU-r  sciziiiir  several  Indian  chiefs,  resolved  on 
a  second  attempt  to  se(;ure  tli<'  missionary.  A  party  of  230  nicii 
under  (.'olonel  Westhrook  was  sent  ai^aiiist  Xt>rridi:;ewalk,  in  tli.' 
fall  of  IT'J'J,  in  hopes  of  lindinu;  jiiin  alone,  for  it  was  the  huiil- 
intr  season.  They  were  not  mistaken  :  a  few  old  men  and  inva- 
lids  were  the  only  oecuiJantsof  the  village.  Fortunately,  however, 
the  Kni^jlish  as  they  enti'ied  the  Kennebec  were  seen  hy  two  youiii; 
braves,  who  tracked  them  far  enough  tt»  1h>  sure  of  their  desin;n, 
then  hastened  on  to  ^ive  the  alarm.  The  missionary  had  barely 
time  to  consume  the  hosts  in  the  tabeinach',  and  strike  into  the 
woods  with  the  altar  vessels  :  he  had  now  been  lonira  cripple,  and 
without  snow-shoes  could  not  flee  far.  When  the  F^iii^lish  found 
tliat  he  was  gone,  they  ]tursue«l  him,  but  by  the  will  of  (Jod  passed 
by  liim  as  he  lay  behind  a  tree,  without  ever  discovering  him. 
Failing  in  their  great  object,  they  pillaged  his  chundi  and  cabin, 
carrying  oil'  every  thing,  even  his  chests,  papers,  ^ekstand,  and 
among  the  rest,  his  now  celebrated  Abnaki  dictionary .+     He  wa^^ 


*  rimrlovoix,  Memoiro  sur  IcHlimiteado  rAcadio,  Oct.  1720.  Paris  Poc, 
Boston,  vii.  2-2. 

t  This  Dictioiiar}'  has  since  l)con  roff.inlcd  as  one  of  the  most  pvocions 
remains  of  the  early  pliilulojrieal  hibors  on  tlio  Indian  lanjruaL'os.  T!io 
oriijinftl  is  still  j)rescrveil  with  the  trrcatest  care  in  the  safe  of  the  library 
of  Ilarvaril  College,  and  it  was  carefully  published  in  the  first  volume  of  the 


FUENCII   MlSrilOXrf. 


141) 


now  cx|)f>scMl  t<»  <lii'  of  starvation  in  ilic  woods,  and   untlt'i'woiit 
i,n('at  Mitl't'riii;^  Ixfor*'  rt'li«'t' icaclicd  liiiii  tr<>iu  (^iichcc.* 

'lliis  last  uutraLT"'  rons<'d  tin*  Indians  to  war  :  tlic  iifi'  of  tlio 
di'voti.'*!  missionary  was  in  (•<»nstant  itt-ril,  and  iiis  ttK)d  was  cliictlv 
Mi'orns,  tor  linntini,^  and  tillai;<'  wfic  hotli  intfrrujitcd,  and  littlo 
<'orn  was  raised.  Notiiinj^  conld  «'XC('«'d  tlic  solicitndc  ot'  tin*  In- 
dians tor  his  sat'ffv,  oxcrpt  Iiis  liddifv  to  remain  and  sharo  tliuir 
jieril ;  tor  tli<tUL;ii  uri^cd  to  ntiro  to  (^ntdtt-c,  he  r«j»lifd  :  '*  Mv 
nitasurcs  art;  takt-n  :  dod  lias  committcil  this  tlock  to  mv  can', 
and  I  will  sharo  its  lot-  too  ha|)|ty,  if  )•  •rmittrd  to  sai-rilico  my  lifo 
t'oi'  it."  With  th(i  a))ostl«',  !io  cxclaimtd,  "  I  foar  nouv  of  these 
things,  nt'ilhcr  do  I  count  m;.  lilc  i;iorc  precious  than  myself,  so 
tliat  I  may  consummate  i.iy  con:  *,  and  •■  f  ministry  of  the  word 
wliicii  I  roi'eivcd  from  the  Lord  Jcsu-*'  I'orccd  rapid  marches 
Were  now  his  dailv  lot,  and  he  was  ootistantiv  v "  h  the  main  hod v 
uf  the  trihe  Jis  the  oidy  plac*;  o!  sal  *ty,  tlittiii^C  tiom  jilaee  to  place 
as  they  attacked  or  retiivd. 

So  much  were  tlu'se  missions  i-ednced,  thai  Kathei'  Koyard,  who 
liad  apparently  succeeded  Father  Simon  on  the  St.  John's,  went  to 
Kur«»pe  in  1723,  to  solicit  aid  :'«  r  the  poor  Ahnakis,  whose  only 
otfence  was  a  preference  for  Catholicity  and  the  French.  On  his 
return  he  infused  a  new  spirit  into  \\U  people,  and  the  war  went 
oil,  I'eace  was  spoken  of  l>v  the  iMiglish  in  1724,  but  before 
coiidudini;  it,  they  resolved  to  make  a  last  etl'ort  «>n  the  life  of 
Father  liale,  the  gre  ili  ;  object  of  their  clesires.f  On  the  23d  of 
August,  1724,  a  small  force  of  Knglisji  an<l  some  ^[ohawks  sud- 


ncw  scries  of  tl  i  Memoirs  of  the  American  Aoiulcmy  of  Arts  and  Sci- 
ences, p.  .370.  Tlic  oriu'inal  Ibrms  a  fpiarto  ot'  'J-'O  i>ai,'cs,  tlioiij,')!  all  are 
not  written  on;  it  was  begun  by  him  in  IG'Jl,  and  received  constant  addi- 
tions down  to  its  loss. 

*  Hale's  letter,  17-J2;  Vaudrcuirs  letter,  IStli  Oct.  1722  :  Paris  Doc,  Bos- 
ton, vil.  11:',. 

+  -See  ill  Dr.  1  raneis'  Lifo  of  lialo  the  resolutions  uud  expeditions  in  1720, 
1721.  17-J2.  17    ■.  and  1724. 


150 


AMEIIICAX   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


1     J' 
i 


ii 


denly  emerged  from  the  tliiclc  copse  wliicli  suiTounded  tlie  iinde- 
fcndi'd  village,  and  as  soon  as  they  came  in  view,  tiieir  volleys, 
rattling  through  the  hark  cabins,  aroused  the  unsuspecting  in- 
mates. All  Avas  consternation  ;  the  women  and  children  lied  ; 
the  braves  who  had  linircred  in  the  villarje,  seized  their  arms,  and 
rushed  forward  to  meet  and  check  the  foe  ;  but  the  devoted  mis- 
sionary was  the  fust  to  appear.  He  luid  been  warned  of  the  ene- 
my's approach,  but  believing  it  impossible  at  this  season,  liad 
inducecl  his  tlock  to  attach  no  credit  to  the  report.  Now  fatally 
undeceived,  lie  came  forth,  conscious  that  he  alone  was  the  object 
of  their  liate,  and  lioping  by  the  sacrifice  of  his  own  life  to  save 
his  flock.  Indeed,  no  sooner  had  he  reached  the  mission  cross, 
than  a  shout  arose,  and  a  volley,  awakening  anew  tlie  echoes  of 
the  forest,  laid  him  dead  at  the  foot  of  that  symbol  of  redemption. 
Seven  chiefs  who  had  gathered  around  him  shared  his  fate.  The 
Indians  fled,  and  the  victoi's  wreaked  their  fury  on  the  corj)se  of 
the  aged  missionary,  whi(;h  was  hacked  and  mangled;  his  heaij 
cloven  open,  his  legs  broken,  and  his  whole  body  mutilated  and 
trampled  on.  l*roceeding  to  the  church,  they  rifled  the  altar,  pro- 
faned the  adorable  host  and  the  sacred  vessels,  and  consummated, 
what  every  civilized  man  must  term,  their  atrocities,  by  firing  tlie 
church.* 

On  the  retreat  of  the  English,  the  Abnakis,  who  had  escapeil, 
returned,  and  began  to  bury  their  dead,  above  all,  the  body  of 
tlieir  beloved  missionary,  which  tliev  interred  amid  tlie  ruins  of 

*  Letter  of  F.  dc  la  Chns?e,  Lettres  Edif.  ct  Cur.  xxiii. ;  Charlev.  iv.  1'_'0; 

Paris  Doc,  Bost.  vii.  217.     Tlie  English  aocotmt  is  quite  tlirtVrent ;  it  re[ire- 

scuts  him  us  in  a  hut,  ileteiKlins;  liimselt'  to  the  last,  and  stainin<;  his  liau'ls 

with  the  blood  of  an  Eiiirlish  i>risonor.     This  is  too  extravajrant  to  bolii'Vi'. 

The  French  account  is  derived  from  the  Indians,  and  had  Fatlier  Kale  tlitil 

^srhtino:,   the  Indians  woidd  douhtles^  extol  him,  as  the  Entrlish  did  tlie 

'ev.  Mr.  Fry,  killed  in  LoveH's  expedition,  after  killintr  and  scaJpiiisr  ai.  lu- 

■'»  with  his  own  hand.     Dr.  Harris,  Mass.   Hist.   Coll.  II.  viii.  p.  ti(37,  aii'l 

■'•aneis  in  his  classic  Hio<rraphy,  acknowledge  that  these  aspersiona  oii 

ntircly  unfounded. 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


151 


llio  umlc- 
ir  vuUeys, 
L'ctiiiuj  in- 
Ireii  lied  ; 
arms,  and 
koted  mis- 
)f  the  eiie- 
'ason,  liud 
ow  fatally 
the  object 
ifo  to  save 
sion  cross, 
echoes  of 
}deniption. 
fate.     The 
}  corpse  of 
|;  his  head 
ated  and 
altar,  pro- 
«uininated. 


nring  the 


I  escape<l, 
e  body  of 
ruins  of 


i!V.  iv.  I'JO; 
;  it  ropiv- 

to  bclii'Vi'. 
lialo  .li.Ml 
■Ai  (lid  tlic 
Limr  ill.  Iii- 
r.  -'07,  iiii'l 
Icrsioiia  uii 


their  church,  where  the  altar  had  stood  at  which  he  had  so  often 
otl'ered  up  the  adorable  sacritioe.  To  Quebec  tliey  sent  a.s  a  relic 
h\>  tattered  habit,  Avliich  tlie  English  had  thrown  away  iu  their 
precipitate  retreat. 

Tiius  tell  the  greatest  of  the  Abnaki  missionaries :  by  Catholics 
esteemed  a  martyr,  by  the  I'uritans  a  bloody  inciter  of  Indian 


Hi 


d  in  th 


war.  Ills  position  was  a  trying  one,  aiul  in  tlio  iiiKpiitous  course 
i»ursued  bv  the  English  towards  his  flo(dc,  he  certainly  couhl  not 
counsel  tlie  latter  to  submit ;  but  while  thus  urging  resistance  to 
ojipression,  there  is  nothing  to  show  that  he  excited  his  Hock  to 
criieltv.  On  the  contrary,  it  is  admitted  by  a  governor  of  Main*', 
"that  when  the  old  man  expired  beside  the  altar  he  had  reared, 
the  barbarism,  which  he  had  oidy  in  a  manner  controlled,  br(»kc 
loose  w  ith  a  ferocity  not  softened  by  the  dogmas  lie  tauglit."* 

If  his  national  feeling  as  a  Freiiehman  ever  led  him  to  overstep 
the  bounds  of  prudence  at  the  suggestion  of  the  French  king  and 
the  governor  of  Canada,  with  whom  he  was  in  constant  coitc- 
spondence,  and  who  urged  him,  as  wt'  well  know,  to  continue  liis 
t>pj)osition  to  English  encroachment,  there  is,  on  the  other  liand, 
no  dt»ubt  as  to  the  injustice  of  Xew  England  to  his  flock,  and  of 
their  bitter  hatred  to  him  personally  on  mere  religious  grounds, 
which  prompted  their  unrelenting  etibrts  to  t.'ike  his  life.f 

Among  our  Indian  missionaries,  Father  IJale  will  always  rank 
as  one  of  the  greatest ;  learned,  zealous,  and  laborious,  careful  of 
the  leligious  progress  of  his  tloek,  careless  of  Ids  own  comfort  and 
life,  desirous  even  of  martyrdom.  Tried  on  the  Illinois  mission, 
he  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Maine,  and  dying  at  an  advanced  ag<', 
when  most  men  seek  lost  and  quiet,  1«3  was  still,  though  a  cripple, 
an  earnest  laborer.J 

*  Gov,  Lincoln,  Maine  Hist.  Coll.  i.  Dr.  Frnncia  niukcs  tho  same  ntl- 
iiiissioii. 

t  Paris  Documents,  Bostou,  vii.  3l»l  ;  Hancroft,  iii.  338. 

t  Seluistian  Kulo  was  born  in  165s,  in  Frunoho  Cointe,  where  his  family 
•  fLiiIiied  a  respectable  position.     After  tcachinff  Ctrcek  in  the  Collcifc  of 


152 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


The  Indians  of  Xonidijowalk  were  so  dishoartonod  hv  the  death 
of  tlieir  niissionarv,  tliat  one  hundred  and  tiflv  retired  to  Canada 
to  swell  the  mission  of  St.  Fiancis,  then  <lireeted  by  Father  Au- 
hery  ;  the  rest,  unwillin<j;  to  leave  their  country,  n<?vertheless  aban- 
doned their  village,  and  the  pla(;e  bi-eanie  desolate.  The  war 
continued  meanwhile  with  unabated  ferocity,  and  it  was  onlv  in 
An<rust,  1727,  that  peace  was  finally  restored.* 

'J'he  missions  on  the  I'enobscot  and  St.  John's  were  not  disturbed 
by  the  Knglish ;  but  Lauvergat  at  the  former  had  much  to  sufter 
from  the  half-breed  Castines. 


I 


ClIATTER    IV. 


TlIK    AMNAKI    MISSION (cOXTIXUED.) 

The  mission  at  Norridpowalk  restored — Lauvorgat  leaves  tlie  Penobscot— Father  Ger- 
main, tlio  liust  .losuit  missionary — Tlic  Frencli  war — Tlio  Abiiukis  during  Uio  Kevolu- 
tion — Orono — Tlioy  ai)[>ly  to  IJisliop  Carroll — Mr.  Ciqiiard— Mr.  aftorwanls  Canlinnl 
Chevc-nis — Later  missionaries — Tlie  Jesuits  ajjuin  at  tlio  grave  of  Uale — Present  state 
of  the  tribe. 

To  console  the  Abnakis  of  the  Keanebec  the  king  oi'dered  Fa 
ther  de  la  Chasse  to  cover  the  body  of  Fatlier  liale,  which,  in 
Indian  phrase,  is  to  condole  with  them  on  their  loss.     Anxious  to 
restore  their  village,  they  earnestly  begged  for  a  mis.sionary.    Yield- 


Nistncs,  he  onmo  to  America  in  1()89,  arriving  in  Qnebec  on  the  13th  of 
October  in  that  year.  Sent  lirst  to  the  Abnaki  mission  of  St.  Francis,  he 
was,  about  1H0:%  sent  to  Illinois,  but  in  16115  at  least  was  on  tlie  Kentieljoo. 
His  lite  there  we  liave  brietly  sketched. 

His  Abnaki  Dictionary  is  still  jireservcd  as  a  treasure  at  Harvard  Colle;jo, 
and  to  the  great  joy  ot'all  phil()loirif<ts,  was  published  in  the  Memoirs  of  the 
American  Acailcmy  in  \%'-V.\.  In  tlie  same  year  Bishop  Fcnwick,  of  Hostoii, 
once  a  Father  of  the  Society  of  .losus.  raised  a  monument  to  the  memory 
of  Father  Kulo  on  the  spot  where  he  was  burieil  one  hundred  and  iiiuo 
years  betbro. 

*  Parin  Doc.,  Boston,  vii.  .'V.t?.  S:^'. 


FUENCII    MISSIONS. 


153 


iiiij^  nt  h-iiLTtli  to  their  cntroatios,  tlio  Superior  .nt  Qiiohec  sent  V.x- 
^'ler  .Ijiines  (le  Sireiine  to  Xonidii-cwulk  in  17J5U,  and  under  that 
■iiissionarv  the  vilhii^e  soon  bore  res«'nibhinee  to  the  ]>rosj)orous 
nussion  of  Jiale. 

But  while  Norridi^ewalk  was  ilms  restored,  the  Penobscot  inis- 
>ion  decHned.  Lauver<;at,  worn  out  by  the  ftpposition  iiiadt;  io 
hiiM.  retired  to  Medoktek,  and  tlu.'  l*t.'n(A)seot.s  were  left  without  u 
missionary. 

In  this  position  matters  remained,  till  the  old  French  war,  or 
a<  it  is  called  in  Europe,  the  War  of  the  Austrian  Suc(;ession,  broke 
out.  and  involved  the  colonies  in  a  useless  and  bloody  contest. 
Acadia  was  desolated.     I.ouisburi,',  the  (Jibraltar  of  America,  was 


d  tlu 


taken,  and  the  missionaries  in  the  parts  now  called  JSew  Jiiuns- 
wick  and  Nova  Scotia  were  de})orted,  or  compelled  to  seek  refuu^e 
ill  the  woods  ;  those  in  Maine  were  even  more  exposed,  as  the  In- 
dians were  still  hostile  to  the  Kn<»;lish.  They  acted,  however,  with 
threat  prudence,  and  when  the  Indians  took  up  arms,  willingly  on 
behalf  of  the  English  undertcjok  to  etfect  a  peace. 

This  peace  was,  however,  of  short  continuance.  The  treaty  of 
Aixda-Chapelle,  in  1748,  closed  the  war  of  the  Austrian  succes- 
sion, but  left  the  boundaries  of  the  American  colonies  unsettled. 
Six  years  had  not  elapsed  when  Washington  shed  the  first  French 
blood  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  and  enkindled  a  war  which  proved 
fatal  to  tlie  power  of  France  in  America. 

In  tile  course  of  this  contest  the  old  country  of  Acadia  was 
ciusheil  to  tlie  ground  ;  the  French  settlers  were  carried  otV,  their 
tanns  and  ^illages  burned,  the  missionaries  imprisoned  or  driven 
out.  Manach,  of  the  foreign  missions,  the  missionary  of  the  Mic- 
inacs,  was  sent  to  France,  JjC  Loutre  wa.s  a  prisoner  in  Jersey,  and 
in  17*50  there  remained  on  the  St.  John's  only  Coquart,  who  soon 
utter  withdrew  to  France  ;  and  of  the  Jesuits,  one  certainly,  j)er- 
ha[»s  two,  for  as  their  popularity  was  waning  in  PVance,  their  mis- 
sions in  Canada  declined.     Father  (jlermain  was  the  last  of  the 


7* 


154 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


i 


old  Jesuit  missionaries  in  Maine,  llis  chief  station  was  the  \i\\i\<f*i 
of  St.  Anne,  on  an  island  in  the  8t.  John's,  near  the  site  of  the 
present  town  of  Fredericton,  whence  he  visited  the  various  tribes 
in  Maine,  leading  a  life  of  labcM-ious  usefulness,  amid  the  genenil 
resjx'ct.*  Yet  even  he  did  not  deem  his  life  safe  in  the  war,  ami 
withdrew  to  the  mission  of  St.  Francis,  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  whciv 
he  remained  till  his  death.  From  the  period  of  the  war  the  vaii- 
ous  Abnaki  villages  in  Maine  were  deprived  of  j.astors  for  several 
vears.  The  Hourishinfj  mission  of  St.  Francis,  in  Canada,  was  t<>- 
tally  destroyed  by  the  English  partisan  Rogers  and  his  rang<  is, 
who  killed  many  of  the  Abnakis,  burnt  the  church,  and  left  the 
survivors  utterly  destitute.  Worst  of  all,  one  of  their  pjistors  gave 
them  a  fearful  scandal  in  that  sad  hour,  by  becoming  all  but  an 
apostate. 

In  this  desolation  the  spirit  of  the  Abnakis  was  not  broken. 
Gallantly,  as  Christian  warriors,  had  they  fought  beside  the  sons 
of  France,  and  now  that  the  cross  of  St.  George  replaced  the  lilies 
of  the  liourbons,  they  shared  the  lot  of  the  conquered  Canadian. 
St.  Francis  rose  from  its  ruins,  Becancourt  continued  unatiected  by 
the  change,  and  both  towns,  down  to  the  present  time,  have  been 
regularly  objects  of  the  spiritual  care  of  the  bishops  of  Quebec.f 

Different  was  the  position  of  the  towns  in  Maine.  By  the  peace 
of  1YG3,  in  which  France  surrendered  Canada  and  its  dependen- 
cies, the  missions  received  a  terrible  blow.  The  English  govern- 
ment, while  guaranteeing  to  the  Canadian  the  freedom  and  rights 
of  his  church,  took  steps  to  suppress  the  Jesuits  and  KeroUeets. 
On  these  two  ordere  the  distant  missions,  both  French  and  Indian, 
had  relied.  As  the  old  members  of  these  institutes  died  at  their 
posts,  the  Bishop  of  Quebec  was  unable  to  find  priests  to  succeed 


*  Taschcreau,  Memoir.    Father  Germain  died  at  St.  Francis  in  1779. 

t  The  village  of  St.  Francis  preserved  many  valuable  manuscripts  of  tlic 
early  missionaries,  but  all  unfortunately  perished  in  the  conflagration  wliicli 
destroyed  their  chapel  about  1818. — Note  rf  the  Abb^  Ferland  of  Quebec. 


FliENCIl    MISSIONS. 


i'jo 


tlu'in.     Tlio  missions  of  Maine  were  desert  cm  1,  and  all  seemed  to 
t'orbode  dilliculty  and  dani^er  to  the  Abnaki  chureli. 

Ill  a  few  yeai"s,  however,  another  war  swept  over  the  land  ;  the 
colonies  whieh  had  attacked   Canada   to   extend  the  j)ower  of 
r>iitain,  now  rose  in  revolt  against  that  very  power,  roused  by  acts 
(if  parliament  which  threatened  their  rii^hts.     This  was  the  war  of 
iIk'  Ameiican  revolution,  which,  nursed  by  prejudice  au'ainst  the 
(.'atlioiic  Church,  was  destined,   in   the  desi«ji:ns  of  J'rovidence,  to 
irive  It  ultimately  a  new,  free,  and  uni!npe<led  tieM.     During  the 
cniitcst   the  Abnakis  of  Maine  sided  with  the  Americans,  who  at 
an  earlv  date  solicited  their  friendly  co-operation.    In  answer  to  let- 
ters from  Washington  to  the  tribe,  in  1775,  deputies  of  the  Indians 
<in  the  St.  John's,  and  of  the  various  Micmac  clans  from  the  liay  of 
I'uiidy  to  Gaspc,  met  the  council  of  Massachusetts  at  Watertown. 
The  record  of  their  interview  has  been  jireserved,  and  is  as  noble  a 
monument  as  our  annals  present,  showing  into  what  men  Catho- 
Ijcitv  had  transformed  the  savage.    Ambrose  \'ar,  the  chief  of  the 
St.  John's  clan,  was  the  speaker  of  this  band  of  Catholic  Indians. 
'•  We  are  thankful  to  the  Almiuhty  to  see  the  ( 'ouneil,"  is  the  lii-st 
word  of  these  truly  Christian  men.    To  the  applications  which  had 
l>eeu  made,  they  replied,  that  they  intended  to  adhere  to  the  Ameri- 
cans in  the  coming  struggle,  and  aid  them  to  the  best  of  their  power. 
Having  attained  the  political   object  of   their   emba.ssy,  they 
rul<l«'d:  "We  want  a  lilack-gown  or  French   priest.     Jesus  we 
l»ay  to,  and  we  will  not  hear  any  prayer  (i.  e.  religion)  that  comes 
t'nuii  old  luigland."     And  such  wjts  their  desire  to  enjoy  once 
more   the  c<msolations  of  their  faith,  that   before   the   assembly 
closed  they  again  renewed  the  request.     The  Court  of  Mfussachu- 
sotts  expressed  its  satisfaction  at  their  respect  for  religion,  and  de- 
clared themselves  ready  to  get  them  a  French  priest ;  but,  as  was 
to  be  expected,  added,  that  they  did  not  know  where  to  find  one.* 


*  Araorican  Archives,  VI.  i.  838,  848. 


lo(i 


AMKKICAX    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


The  ]\'nol).scot.s  next  joined  tli<'  Amerieans,  and  like  tlie  P.i.ssania- 
quoddies,  at  once  asked  for  a  F)en<'h  priest,  and  to  them,  too,  the 
General  Court  could  do  no  moie  than  declare  their  sincere  desire 
to  j)lace  in  their  villai^fs  a  (.\itholic  jjricst.  Strantr*'  revolution  in 
the  minds  of  men!  the  very  bo<ly  which,  less  tiian  a  century  Ix- 
fore,  had  made  it  felony  for  a  Catholic  priest  to  visit  the  Al)naki>, 
which  had  otiered  rewards  fur  the  heads  of  the  missionaries  of  that 
tribe,  which  had  exulted  in  slayini^  one  at  his  altar,  now  regretted 
that  it  could  not  f^ive  these  Christian  Indians  a  missionary  of  the 
same  faith  and  nation.* 

Numbers  of  the  Ahnakis  joined  the  army  of  the  Revolution ; 
and  Orono,  the  Penobscot  chief,  bore  a  commission,  which  he  en- 
nobled by  his  vii'tues  and  bravery.  In  all  his  changes,  from  the 
wigwam  and  forest  to  the  camp  and  the  crowded  city,  from  the 
society  of  the  Catholic  children  of  the  forest  to  that  of  the  more 
civilized  Conmeijationalists  of  Ne\^  iMiijland,  Orono  was  ever  faitii- 
ful  to  his  religion.  When  urged  to  fiequent  Protestant  places  ot" 
worship,  as  he  had  no  clergj-man  of  his  own,  he  exclaimed  :  ''  We 
know  our  religion,  and  love  it :  we  know  nothing  of  you  or  yours." 
Never,  indeed,  did  the  labors  of  our  missionaries  produce  a  faitli 
more  firm  and  constant  than  that  of  the  Abnakis.f 

When  peace  was  restored,  and  the  few  Catholics  in  Maryland 
liad  time  to  look  around  them,  they  sought  a  Bishop,  and  the  Ko\ . 
John  Carroll,  a  member  of  the  suppressed  Society  of  Jesus,  was 
chosen.  To  him  the  Abnakis  of  Maine  sent  a  solemn  deputation 
to  ask  a  missionary  to  guide  and  direct  them.  Bearing  the  cruci- 
fix of  Father  Rale,  they  presented  it  to  the  Bishop,  exclaiming : 
"  If  I  give  it  to  thee  to-day.  Father,  it  is  as  a  pledge  and  promise 


*  American  Archives,  12'23.  At  that  time  the  people  of  Massacluisctt!!, 
aa  n  general  tiling,  had  never  seen  a  i)riest.  The  Court  could  only  otVor  a 
minister.  "  If  one  of  our  priests  would  be  agreeable  to  you,"  they  say,  "  wc 
will  (tideavor  to  get  you  one,  and  take  care  he  bo  a  good  man." — 846. 

f  See  a  sketch  of  Orono's  life  in  the  Mass.  Historical  Collections,  ix.  82. 


FJiENGIl    MISSIONS. 


157 


tlint  tliou  wilt  soikI  us  a  priest."  Straitened  jus  ho  was  witli  tiie 
want.s  of  liis  vast  <li(>cese,  JJishop  Carroll  |»roiniseil  to  give  tliein  a 
j>ast(»r,  aiKJ  apjdiiMl  t<>  Mr.  Emery,  tiie  Sii[)ori()r  of  St.  Sul)>iee,  eoii- 


<ru 


ms  tliat  Fraiiee  wouKl  not  lefuse  a  suec 


t's^or 


to  her  liale.     Mr, 


ritjnanl^of  tiiat  c'(»iigreiratioii,  was  soon  at  (Md  Town,  and  havini^ 
learned  tlu'  lanixuaire,  exti'nde<l   his  cares  to  the  whole  trihe.  an<l 


'S""S    » 


directed  it  for  nearly  ten  years,  down  to  1704,  when  he  left  tho 
rassainatjuoddy  to  take  charge  of  the  Indians  of  'rohitjue  and  St. 
Anne,  near  Fre<lericton.* 

The  Ahnakis  of  tlie  I'enobscot  were  not,  however,  abandoned. 
The  Kev.  John  Ciieverus,  tlien  a  missionary  at  Boston,  beiran  to 
stu<lv  the  Abnaki,  and,  having  ae<juired  some  knowledge  of  it, 
visited  tho  Penobscots.  J'oor  and  forsaken  as  tliev  had  been,  these 
Indians  still  preserved  their  faitii,  the  old  regularly  instructing 
the  vouncf,  «'ind  all  assendjlinijf  on  Sundavs  to  (diant  the  music  of 
the  mass  and  vespers,  although  the  allar  was  di-piived  of  a  priest, 
and  no  sacrifice  was  there.  The  unexpected  appearance  of  M.  de 
Ciieverus  tilled  them  all  with  j(»y  ;  and  he  himself,  as  ho  approached 
the  village,  was  filled  with  rapture  to  hear  the  royal  mass  of  Du- 
niont  lesoundinjx  through  the  woods.  For  three  months  he  con- 
fessed,  catechized,  baptiy.ed,  visiting  tho  sick  and  dying,  not  only 
on  the  Penobscot,  but  also  on  the  Psissaniaquoddy.  During  his 
career  as  piiest  and  bishop,  the  apostolic;  Chevcrus  visited  them 
every  year,  built  them  a  church,  and  gave  them,  in  the  person  of 
his  townsman,  the  Uev.  Mr.  Komagne,  an  excellent  missionary.! 


*  Francis  C'iquurd  wius  born  at  Clermont,  in  France,  and  orilaincd  priest 
ill  1770.  He  joined  the  Snipitians,  and  when  the  revolution  broke  out,  was 
dircHtor  of  the  Theological  Seminary  of  ]ioiir<.'es.  He  came  to  America  in 
order  to  join  tlic  Sulpitians  of  Montreal,  but  was  not  permit  od  by  the  Knjr- 
Ii>li  trovcnimcnt  to  enter  Canada.  After  laboriiii;  many  years  in  tlu"  I'nited 
States  iind  Now  lirunswick,  he  obtained  the  necessary  authority,  and  was 
for  some  years  missi<»nury  at  St.  Francis.  He  ilied  at  Montreal,  Icavini,'  the 
ri'iiutation  of  a  holy,  humble,  and  zealous  priest. — Xutf  nf  the  Al>hf  Ftrlaml. 

t  John  Louis  Let'ebvre  de  Ciieverus  was  born  at  Mayeinie  on  tho  !.'Stli  of 
January,  1708.     He  received  tho  tonsure  ut  uu  early  uge,  and  was  ordaine-l 


Iu8 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


Il 


'riiissua'essor  of  DruilK'ttos  estaUlisliod  liis  abode  at  Point  Pleasant 
on  tli<'  J*assania(jiio«l(lv,  and  lor  nearly  twi-nty  years  devoted  liini- 
self  to  the  care  of  tlio  IV'iutbscctts  and  I'assaniaquotldies.  His 
lionse  was  a  wretched  loij-cabin  of  but  two  njoms;  his  (.•haj)el  little 
b(;tter;  though  l)otii  were  superior  to  those  of  his  tlock..  Worn 
down  l)y  frequent  intirniities,  lie  returned  to  Frar>"t!  just  after 
l)i>hoj»  Fenwick  was  raised  to  the  See  of  IJoston  in  18'25.  His 
departJM'c  was  n-gretted  by  all  who  knew  him,  but  especially  by 
his  Hock,  and  by  the  new  prelat*'.  ''  His  devotedness  to  these  poor 
liklians,  the  happy  fruits  of  his  apostolic  labors,"  says  the  IMshop 
in  1831,  "are  still  visible,  and  make  me  the  more  regret  his  de- 
parture, as  liis  e.\j)erience  might  have  been  most  useful  to  me,  in 
showing  nie  how  best  to  govern  and  instinct  that  ])art  of  my  dio- 
cese;  l)ut  1  had  not  the  pleasure  of  knowing  him.''* 

Finding  the  Penobscots  thus  desolate,  Pishop  Fenwick  conmiit- 
ted  them  to  the  care  of  the  Dominican  Father  Charles  Ffrench, 
then  stationed  at  Eastport,  who  frequently  visited  them  to  celebrate 
mass  and  instruct  the  young.  About  this  time  an  attempt  was 
made  to  weaken  the  faith  of  these  noble  Catholi<*.  As  these  In- 
dians are  the  only  surviving  aboriginal  inhabitants  of  New  Eng- 
land, the  government  of  Maine,  anxious  for  their  social  improve- 
ment, and  a  missionary  society  in  Massachusetts,  equally  anxious 
for  their  religious  progress,  concurred  in  choosing  a  Mr.  Kellogg  as 


priest  in  Decoinbor,  170O,  at  the  last  public  ordination  in  Paris  before  tlio 
revolution.  In  the  persecution  which  succeeded  the  overthrow  of  the  inou- 
urchy,  Dieverus  escaped  to  England  in  171*2,  and  three  years  after  joined  his 
friend,  Mr.  Matctrnon,  at  Boston.  His  visit  to  tlie  Penobscots  was  made  soon 
after  his  arrival.  Appointed  Bishop  of  Boston  in  1808,  ho  was  transferred  to 
tiic  See  of  Montauban  in  1823,  and  three  years  at\er  created  Archbisliop  of 
Bordeaux.  So  great  were  his  virtues  that  Loo  XII.  in  February,  1836,  pro- 
claimed him  a  cardinal — a  diirnlty  he  did  not  live  long  to  enjoy.  His  deatli, 
which  occurred  on  tlie  7th  of  .luly  in  the  same  year,  occasioned  sincere  griif 
in  Europe  and  America.  Seo  his  Life  by  Dubourg,  American  edition,  I'hil. 
1839,  pp.  00-112. 
*  Annates  do  la  Propagation  dc  la  Foi,  v.  454. 


FKENCIl   MISSIONS. 


loO 


IMeasjiiit 
ted  hiiii- 
c'S.     His 
i|)el  little 
.     Worn 
list   alUT 
25.     His 
cially  l»y 
hese  l)(jor 
le  l*)ish(ijt 
L't  his  (](^- 
to  mo,  in 
r  my  dio- 

:  commit- 
s  FtVoiieli, 
celebrate 
empt  was 
these  In- 
k'W  Eng- 
improve- 
anxious 
Lelloggas 


Ihcforc  tlio 

f  the  uion- 

Ijoiiicd  hi* 

Viiulc  soon 

Isferrud  to 

libishop  of 

ll  836,  pro- 

[lis  tleatli, 

Loerc  ^rrii-t' 

iou,  riiii. 


teacher  and  missionary  to  tlie  l'assama(jUO(Mies  ;  in  wliieii  cajtacity, 
lidwever,  it  seems  lie  did  just  work  ('noujj^h  to  enable  him  to  diaw 
tVoMi  the  government  his  ]v,\y  as  teaclier,  and  from  the  society  his 
stipend  as  missionary  ;  tor  he  made  no  (Converts,  and  not  one  of  iii-. 
]>upils  could  sjK'U  a  word  of  two  syllables  in  1827.* 

About  this  time  the  I'eiiobscots  had  a  missionary  for  about  two 
vears;  but  beinir  of  another  diocese  he  was  then  recalled  bv  his 
superioi's,f  and  for  live  years  they  ha<l  to  depend  on  occasional 
visits  from  the  nearest  i»ri«'st.  Vet  here,  as  at  IMejusant  I'oint,  tin- 
parents  were  good  catechists,  and  the  children  grew  up  instructed 
in  their  catechism  and  prayers.J 

In  July,  1827,  Hishop  Fenwick  visited  this  portion  of  his  dio- 
cese, and  was  received  with  the  most  unbounded  enthusiasm,  JM-iiii; 
conducted  to  the  church  in  procession  amid  the  report  of  fire- 
arms and  preceded  by  the  red-cross  banner  of  the  trilw*,  such  as 
had  waved  over  the  marlyred  Jtale.  His  duties  were  those  of  a 
missionarv'  during  his  stay  ;  he  instructed,  confessetj,  contirme<l  the 
living,  an«l  purified  the  dead,  who  had  been  burit'd  unattended  bv 
a  clergyman.  Tutting  a  stop  to  Kellogg's  career,  the  Bishop  was 
now  earnest  in  his  endeavors  to  procure  a  missionary,  and  as  Eng- 
lish was  not  needed,  ap[)ealed  to  the  Association  for  the  Propaga- 
tion of  the  Faitli.§ 

His  eftbrts  were  crowned  with  success :  before  his  next  visit  in 
1831,  the  I'enobscots  ha<l  a  resident  missionary,  and  showt'd  how 
much  they  had  gained  by  his  presence.  A  beautiful  church,  with 
its  toweling  steeple  and  a  neat  pai"sonage,  had  replaced  Komagno's 
hut :  the  cabins  of  the  Indians  in  many  instances,  too,  were  re- 
placed by  neatly  painted  cottages,  and  an  air  of  comfort  pervaded 
all  the  settlement.  After  administering  confirmation,  the  Bishop 
consecrated  the  church  in  honor  of  St.  Anne,  the  patroness  of  the 


*  AnnnlcH,  &c.  v.  46«\  t  W-  478. 

§  See  his  interesting  letter,  Annaled  v.  447-480. 


:  Id.  465. 


1(JU 


AMKKICAX   CATHOLIC   .M1SS10N.S. 


t 


IrilM-;  l»iit  tli«'  l\'is-;iiiiM«|U<»«l<li»'S  wtT**  still  without  a  jKistor,  an<l  ox- 
j)(>s«'(l  tu  ilic  iiilln«'ii(V  «>t' the  CMnuptiou  s\\u\  prosflyti/iiig  spirit  of 
tJK.'  whiles.''' 

hmiiiH'  this  visit  th«'  r»i>ho|i,  hiinst-ll' a  iin'inlK^r  of  tlm  snnu'  s<>- 
<-i('ty  as  till'  illustrious  Kal*',  |iurrhas<'(l  the  site  of  tin;  lattor's  church, 
autj  |»r«'|»arc<l  to  orcct  a  inonuuiciit  to  his  lucniory.  I'\>r  this  li.- 
chose  the  auuivcrsary  of  his  death,  aii<l  invited  the  Ahuakis  of  tht? 
iV'Uoltscot  and  rassanja<|U»Kldy  to  meet  therc,f  on  the  20th  of  Au- 
gust, 1h:{8,  one  hundred  autl  nine  years  after  the  tight  at  Norridge- 
walk.  Tl»e  village  had  disappeared,  and  the  sp<»t  itself  was  now- 
deserted.  For  a  mile  along  the  river  lav  a  beautiful  and  lovelv 
plain,  wlieri'  the  site  of  the  grave,  never  forgott«>n  by  the  Indians, 
was  easily  found.  l^is|joj>  Fcnwick  repair*  d  to  the  hallowed  spot 
on  the  a]>pointed  <lay  :  the  .\hnakis  of  the  l^cnohseot  and  Passania- 
(juoddy  came  with  their  past(»r;  tiiost>  of  St.  Francis  de  Sales  were 
also  there.  An  altar  was  raised  in  a  little  grove,  and  mass  began, 
the  Indians  chanting  as  tif  old  the  traditional  masses  of  the  mis- 
sion, but  so  great  an«.l  so  eurit»us  was  the  crowd  that  it  was  foun<l 
impossible  to  continue  the  service :  the  IVisliop  then  rose  and  ad- 
dressed the  assendtly,  extending  for  nearly  a  quailer  of  a  mile  on 
either  side,  (^uiet  now  prevailed  witliin  reach  of  his  voice,  and 
after  an  address  of  an  lu»ur  he  ordered  the  shaft  of  the  monument 
to  be  raised  on  the  |K'destal. 

This  monnment  of  our  ohl  missions  is  twenty  feet  hijrh,  the  shaft 
being  a  single  block  of  granit«',  surmounted  by  a  cross.  On  the 
base  a  Latin  inscription  tells  the  traveller  that  that  lonely  spot  w;us 
onco  the  site  of  a  hoiis«>  of  (Jotl  in  a  Christian  village,  tliat  tlie 
pastor  was  shun  and  the  tlock  dispersed.^ 

lu  his  communications  with  tlie  Society  for  the  Propagation 
of  tlie   Faith,  the  l>ishop  .sought  to  attract  some   FVeneh  priest 


♦  Annnles,  il-o.  vi.  2»5o-2»'.0.  f  Kl.  274. 

X  Letter  of  the  Bishop  to  his  brother,  August  29,  1833;  Annulcs  do  U 
Prop.  vii.  187. 


FKENCII    MISSIONS. 


161 


\n  Jliat  jmcit'iit  iiiissinii,*  -.\iu\  Ms  tiidcnvois  woro  not  in  \;iiii. 
In  18.'{.'{,  the  Six'icty  of  riijtiis,  a  cuiii^n'ij.'itioii  «it'  tlif  tliiril 
onK'i- of  St.  Francis,  sc'ut  outM<'ssrs.  Kdinimil  hcinilh'ji  and  iV-lil- 
liitninic,  (K'stinrd  to  icstoii'  the  I'Vaiiciscan  missions  in  M.-iinc 
Tlit'V  arrived  at  Boston,  while  the  l!i>ho|»  was  crectinuf  tlie  nioiin- 
iuent«»t'  Father  Kale,  anti  on  his  return  j)roeeeded  to  I'leasanf  I'oiiit, 
and  iM'gaii  their  iahoiN.  I'indinn*  hnt  one  I'ciiohseot  ahle  to  sj»eak 
French,  tiiey  coninienccd  the  >tiidy  of  the  native  laiiLjuaj^e;  l)eini- 
iier  at  the  \illau:es,  I'etithdinnie  in  their  winter  cam]*.  Iliey  eon- 
tiinied  their  mission  uilii  y-reat  prolit,  and  early  in  18.'{4  the 
I>i>li(»j».  now  |»ossesse<l  of  a  manuscript  prayer-hook  of  Mr.  lio- 
niairnt',  had  it  printed,  and  thus  facilitated  tho  iahor«  of  tlie  iiii.s- 


Monarv  sc 


hool. 


In  tlie  spriiii,^  Mr.  JVtithommo  received  another  destination,  and 
hcniilier  was  Ict't  alone.  His  study  of  the  languaije  was  most 
>ucrfNst"ul ;  he  was  soon  ahle  to  confess  Ids  ])enitents  in  Ah- 
n.iki.  an<l  wlien  the  IJishop  next  visited  the  mission,  In;  c<juld  not 
withhold  tlie  expression  of  his  astonishment  at  the  facility  with 
which  the  F'ather  preached  in  his  newly-a<'<[uired  lanurua^e.f 
Turning  his  knowledge  to  account.  Father  Demilier  <lrew  up  a 
new  prayer-book,  the  print»'d  f»ne  being  very  erroneous,  and  also 
translated  the  (Quebec  cateddsm. 

Under  his  can*  the  mission  took  a  new  form.  Many  vices  were 
abolished  and  some  im])rovement  made  in  the  social  well-being  of 
these  Indian  Catholics,  while  th<!  regularity  of  diviui;  worship  did 
nuicli  to  restore  their  former  [>iety. 

Notwithstanding  the  insignilicance  of  his  missicju  in  nund)ers, 
Mr.  IVmilier  devoted  himself  to  it  witiiout  a  murmur  till  Ins 
death  on  the  2.3d  of  .July,  1843,  when  his  tlock  lost  a  kind  and 
!xlt"-sacrificing  pastor. 

'I  he  successor  of  liisliop  F'enwic  k,  John  F'it/.patrick,  resolved  to 


*  Annales  de  la  Proii.  vi.  187. 


t  Id.  viii.  186-191. 


162 


AMKUICAN   CATIIOMC  MISSIONS. 


give  tlu;  Al»uaki  mission  t 


(» 


I'.'i'hcrH  of  tln!  Society  of  Josus, 


which  iia<i  t'oiiiKJcd  it  ;  aii<l  iit  lo  S'^,  i  athi'i'.Joliii  Itapst  was  ^H^■nt  to 
<M<lto\vii  l>y  the  Sii|M'iiors  of  th»!  Maiylaii  1  I'roviiuc,  ami  siiu'c  that 
timo  botli  IN'fiohscots  ami  J'a.ssaiMa«juo<liii».'s  have  Ik'C'H  utxlcr  the 
cniv  of  the  Josuit.s. 

iJoth  tlicsc  tribes  are  (livi<le(l  into  parties,  betwt'eii  whit'li  great 


<lissensioiis  prevail,  most  injurious 


to  th 


leir  progress. 


Thevtlo  not 


now  exceed  out;  thousantl  souls  in  all,  and  are  rapidly  decM't'jising : 
the  fact  of  their  being  obliged  to  marry  relatives  (tor  almost  all  ot" 
each  village  stand  in  this  reufard  to  each  other,  ami  thev  cannot  bv 
law  marry  whif«'s),  proves  fatal  to  tln-ir  ollspring.  This,  with  their 
precarious  mode  of  life, — for  they  dislikt;  agriculture  m  much  as 
ever, — will  doubtless  ere  long  absorb  the  Abnakis,  who  have  so 
long  out-lived  the  other  Indians  of  \ew  Kngland. 

At  pres«.'nt  the  Peiobscots  are  on  the  island  of  Indian  ( )ldt(>wii, 
the  Passamacpioddies  at  I'leasant  I'oint  and  Louis  Island  in  the  St. 
Croix.  Eiich  village  has  its  church  dedicated  to  St.  Anne,  the 
patroness  of  the  tribe,  whi(;h  has  an  unbounded  devotion  to  tli<; 
Mother  of  the  Virgin,  and  in  distress  sends  her  pilgrims  to  thu 
\yonder-workin<r  shrine  in  Canada.* 


Letter  of  Father  Bupst,  S.  J. 


of  Josus, 

•JUS  HOUt  to 

j*im'(«  tliHt 
uikU'I*  tlu' 

liicli  great 
iU'V<lo  not 
L'(;ri'jtsiinr : 

nost  all  ut' 
oamiot  l>y 
with  their 
4  much  as 
10  huve  so 


I  Ohltowii, 

I  in  the  St. 

Anne,  tlu; 

to  tluj 


](>n 


Inis  to  tho 


yA'r  n  i:  n  j  o  h  r.  di:  li  ji  £  li  £  u  r  .  :; .  j 


M 


ClIAPTKU    V. 


TIIK    IIIKON     MISJSION'. 


Tlie  iliiron  nation— Their  in^lml(■r^ — LnnL'tiau'*- — Ilolirfion — Tluir  acquaintance  witli  tlie 
French — The  IJecoIleet  Le  ('ari>n  foiinils  tiie  niis!*i(in — Simard  anil  Viel — Unexpected 
iiiiinier  of  Vie! — The  .l<'>iiits -Mi»-.i<iii  reiirwod — Tiie  llecoliect  l>;»llii>n  anion:;  tlie 
Alliwaiidaronk— Tile  .lesnif  llrclit'iil' Hiiioni;  tiie  lliiroiis— Tin- dillieulties  of  tlu-  coi- 
ony— Tlie  missionaries  recalled— Touchiiiir  (*cene — Ciiiiture  of  Quebec  hy  the  rcnegado 
Kirk— Knd  of  the  first  mission— IMiiloiiiyical  labors  of  the  Fathers. 

'riii;  nation  known  in  Canmla  I'V  liu*  name  of  Ilurons,  t-all 
tlirnisi'lws  ^^\•n(lat,  and  aif  now  tinned  l>v  ns  W'varulot.  At 
tin-  ix-riod  Avlu.'ii  the  I'Vcncli  toiintit'<l  (^Uflu'c,  tli<  y  oc'ciij»it'<l  a 
Miiall  ^^tiiji  ot"  teiiilory  on  a  jMninsula  in  iiic  soutlu'i'u  extreniity  of 
'irotifian  Hav,  not  cxcci'diiiLr  in  all  luoif  than  sfVcntv-tiNf  miii's 
hy  twenty-four,  a  teiTit(»ry  more  eircnmsonhcd  than  that  of  any 
"tlii-r  Ameriean  nation  ;  for  in  these  naiiow  limits,  four  trihi-s, 
containin*;  at  least  tliirty  thousand  souls,  lived  in  eighteen  populous 
\ill;ii,'<'S.  West  of  them,  in  the  mountains  and  on  tiie  shores  of 
til--  lake,  were  tlie  Tionontatcs  or  iVtuns,  afterwards  confounded 
with  t!ie  llun^ns,  to  win  m^  thev  were  elos'  !•  allied,  heini'  of  the 
same  oriLfin  and  lanjxuagi .  '>t\"V  kindred  trihes  extended,  as  we 
have  seen,*  down  t.  (.".11)11;. M.,  the  mosi  oowertui  being  the  five 
Iruijuois  tribes  in  New  Yiiik. 

This  group,  supe,  or  to  the  Alj,  •;  riuins  in  many  respect.s,  with 
w.ll-built  and  stronu'yil  landed  towie,  thriving  fields  of  corn, 
be.ins,  s.jua.hes,  and  v"b.ijeo,  with  active  traders  and  brave  war- 
riors, always  ae(|uired  a  -iiperiority  over  their  neighbors.  In  point 
of  dre.ss  they  wer«',  if  any  thing,  less  advanced.  The  men  wore 
generally  the  simple  breech-cloth—  a  piece  of  dressed  biick««kin — 
passed   between  the  thighs  aiul  li-iiiging  d<twn  in  front  ;iiid  behind 


*  Sco  u)lrodiictory  chapter. 


101 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


I 


J   i 


nliout  ji  foot  ov(M'  a  lliontj  passed  around  tho  liips.  In  \v^"i»"r.  in- 
deed, Icogiiis  and  soinciinu's  sleeves  wen*  used,  and  a  whole  skin 
fuiineil  a  sort  of  cloak  ov  niantl*'.  \\'liilo  the  AlLi;on([uin  womkii 
wore  a  rol>e  reaehinnf  tVoni  tl  e  shoulders  to  the  knees,  the  lluinn 
women  wore  hut  a  leaver  v.etticoat  from  the  Avaist.  Modcsiy 
seemed  .-ihuost  uidcnown,  and  hoth  sexes  apjieared  to  see  no  im- 
projiriety  in  ahsolute  nudity  ;  and  as  (he  tattooinrr  and  paintin*,^  ot" 
the  body  was  a  maik  of  valorous  deeds  and  liiijh  empiise,  there  was 
no  inducement  to  make  the  uncoverecl  part  small  or  inconspieuou-. 
Feathers,  elaws  of  beast  and  bird,  shells,  or  scalps  torn  from  the 
bleedinef  iiead  of  an  enemy,  were  their  jewels. 

Tlieir  lani,niage,  the  only  <'ertain  key  to  their  connection  with 
the  rest  of  the  world,  a  liidc  pointed  out  by  a  Jesuit*  a  century  agi>, 
but  newly  discovered  yesterday,  was  a  peilect  system  of  synthesis. 
Nothing  is  absti'act,  nothing  general  ;  the  real, actual  ])resent  liv 
in  their  language  :  notiiing  is  infinite,  indefinite,  or  undefined. 
In  this  tongue,  as  in  ev-ry  other  of  our  continent,  tin.'  verb  usur]*-; 
all,  absorbs  .'dl ;  the  n»>uii,  [tioiKuin,  a<ljecli\e  are  conjugated  willi 
the  verb  or  like  it.f 

Their  religion  and  cosmogony  were  as  tlill'erent  as  their  lan- 
guages from  those  of  other  nations.  Their  cosmogony  begins  with 
a  woman  named  Ataeiitsic,  who,  drix'eii  or  tlying  froui  heaven,  tell 
into  the  abyss  of  wateis,  and  for  whom  the  tiu'tle  and  beaver,  after 
long  consultation  and  many  etlbrts,  at  last  brought  up  the  eartn. 


e> 


*  rimrlcvoix,  flic  real  foumlor  of  American  etlinoloiry. 

+  llow  Car  it  tlitlVrs  from  niiv  Kiirii|i('nn  tonu'uo,  the  reader  iiiiiy  jmlirt'  l'\ 
till!  Lord's  I'raycr,  as  tr..nslftti'd  l)y  Urehcut":  ''Onaistun  de  aroidilae  istnre. 
Sasen  t'diondai'irn-iidatcre  saeliit'iidaouaii.  Out  aiuton  sa  elieoiiandiii-l;i 
emliiuli'.  Out  aintor.  sciudiiL'ii  sarasta,  oliouent  soouc  aciio  toti  inti  Ai"ii- 
liiaein'.  Ataiiidataia  sell  iioiiciida  tara  eha  eoaiitate  a<>iiai)tcli:'.ii.  Oiita  tacu- 
aiiilieiirlieiis,  sell  attiiiarrilioiiandt  raenui,  to  ehieiiiic  ioti  lu-iidi  oti>a  oin'ii- 
truHirlu'iis  du  ouii  oiilvirrilmiiaiidirai.  Kium  elie  eliaiia  ataiviiionindaliaft 
d'eiieai'ta.  <  'a  seiiti  ioti." — LcJesini('«  Cdtechiftii,  puljlishcd  witli  Cliami'lain'.* 
Voyajre,  in  Pi '•I. 


FRENCH    MISSIOXS. 


10; 


i) 


\\:'yi>'V.  111- 
vlu»K'  skill 
ill  \viiiii''ii 
[ha  Ilurmi 
Mndcsly 
SCO  no  iin- 
lainting  of 
,  tluMo  >v;is 

)!lS})i('lloU-. 

II  tVoui  till' 

»ctioii  with 
}ntury  aifo, 
■  synthesis, 
resent  lives 
undefined. 
■v\\>  usur)» 
itetj   willi 

tlu'ir  laii- 
Lfins  with 
•avoii,  tell 
aver,  at"t<i' 
the  earl  II. 


y  jiulffe  l)j 
lliiai-  istan'' 

lioti  Aroii- 
lonta  tauii- 

)tl>!l  Olli'll- 

li.ninilaliit!* 
Iiuail'lain'.* 


IJeposiiiiif  on  this  she  heeanie  the  nrnthtT  ot' two  >oiis, — Tawiscaron 
and  .louskeha,  the  latter  of  whom  slew  his  brother.  This  .louskflia 
is  n'i,^ard<'d  as  tin'  sun,  and  his  stui,  'riinioiihiawau'on  or  Aireskoi, 
was  it'U'arded  as  the  i^ieat  drity.  \<-t  no  dctinitc  id»'a  existctl  as 
!o  his  nature,  whether  man  «>i-  irod.  Accordiiii;  to  sonir.  the  tirst 
|«ri)gt'iiv  of  this  woman  were  eeriain  animals,  from  whom  the 
various  tiihes  desci'inled,each  of  which  hears  as  a  totem  the  animal 
from  whieh  it  sj»rulli,^ 

IJt'sides  this  deitv,  whom  thev  styled  ^^aster  of  Lite,  vet  1h'- 
iievetl  evil,  they  |teoj(ied  all  creation  witli  spirits  ]>roj>itiotis  or 
li(stile  to  man.  J'^very  cataract,  every  daiijxerous  pass,  every 
stormy  wind,  ev«'iy  ohjeet  of  dan^'er,  was  ?-uled  hy  a  demon  to  Imi 
appeased;  the  corn,  the  deer,  the  scpiasii,  ti;e  heaver,  the  lish,  l»v 
spirits  to  he  propitiated.  To  the  ifivat  i^od  alone  was  otl'ei  -u 
sacrillee  projK'iiy  speakillL^ — human  victims,  (»r,  hy  siihstitution, 
the  donf,  their  only  domestic  animal:  inferior  deities  were  }>ropi- 
tiated  hy  tobacco.* 

A  tradin<;  }»eoj)l(\  they  soon  heard  from  the  Al_Lroni|uins  that 
^traiit^ers  had  enter«'d  the  St.  Lawrence  l<<'arini;  wonderful  thinn-s 
which  thev  jxladh  i\(dianu'e(|  for  furs.  The  settlement  of  (.)uehec 
was  scarce  l»ei;un,  when  they  descended  to  Three  liiv«'rs,  reachiii;^ 
i'  hy  the  Ion;.'  and  painful  route  of  l-Veiich  lliv.r  and  the  Ottawa. 
^'hainjilain  welcomed  the  stranu'ers,  and  so(»n  formed  an  allianco 
widi  them.  ')di<'  missionaries  of  the  llecollect  letorm,  who  came 
<iiif  ill  1015,  wt'iii  to  Three  Ivivei-s  and  Tadoussac  to  see  the  na- 
ti"iis  that  came  to  irade,  and,  returnitii;"  to(^>uehec,  coionhed  as  to 
the  phin  of  tlie  missions  to  be  attempted.  Tliey  were  hut  thr»H! 
priests,  yet  they  took  possession  of  the  outposts.  'I'he  Commissary 
I'atlu'r  l)ennis  Jamay  remained  at  (.Quebec;  the  hardy  John  d*Ml- 


*  r.rcbi.'iir,  I)i!  In  (  rrujico,  <los  Mn'iirs  ct  <los  Coiitiiinrs  iIch  Iliirons,  in  Ki|. 
l'il«>,  p.  80;  Sii.'arl,  llistoiro  dii  (.'aiiuilu,  eli.  ;30  ;  < 'iiarlcVdix,  \  i.  •!.") ;  LaJitni, 
Mii;iir.<  lies  Suuva^res,  i.  lij:};  I.e  ('anui  ia  he  C'lureq,  i.  270.  Tiio  aecoiiiitH 
ut'tliu  relationship  of  Atacntsic  to  Tharouliiuwajroii  vary. 


10(1 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSION'S. 


1 1 


beau  liastciR'd  to  T.-kIoussu',  at  the  mouth  v\'  \\\v  SagiuMiay,  to 
Icani  tin;  lani^uai;*',  iiiamu  !>*,  a!j<i  liti.'  <tf  the  Moiitao'iiais  ;  Katlnr 
.Idsrj.h  \m  C'aiun,  takiiii;  as  his  sliaif  the  IIiuuiis  aiul  wi'stt  in 
trihes,  prepared  to  visit  tlie  jj^ieat  hikes  (if  the  west. 

With  twelve?  Freiielnneii,  sent  to  the  Hufons  to  trade,  he  s<t 
t>ut,  ill  the  fall  of  1015,  and,  plyiiii?  liis  jtaddh?  all  day  lotii;,  or 
toilitii;  throuy;h  the  rapids,  l»eariti<^  canoe  and  hai^uai;*!  at  tli'' 
many  portai^es,  with  no  fo(«l  hut  the  insipid  mai/e,  tin*  uriiilr 
missioiuiry  made  his  way  undauntedly  to  the  homes  of  the  Wni- 
dat.  The  villaLTe  Carrauoiiha  invited  the  iMiviiy  of  Christ  within 
its  sate  palisade,  which,  with  tiip'e  streni^th,  rose  neai'  forty  fed 
in  heiiLjht,and  the  Iluronsrifcred  him  their  i^reat  cahin,  hut,  fearless 
of  daiiii*'!',  and  seeking:  raiher  (juiet  and  seclusion  than  the  husy 
haunt  of  men,  \a'  I'aron  asked  to  li\e  apart.  A  cahin  was  soon 
raist'il  near  the  village,  and  here  he  he'^an  his  nussioii  hy  ott'eriiiL: 
uj*  the  s:icriiice  of  the  mass  hetoic  (.'ham|)lain  and  his  few  coun 
trymeii,  uiuid  the  crowil  of  wonderinjj^  natives. 

W'hil'  the  foimder  of  Canada  led  his  Union  allies  into  the  he.iit 
of  NtfW  \\>\\i,  to  he  I'epulsed  hy  the  stout  Wooden  walls  ali<l 
stouter  hearts  of  the  Irotjuois,  the  zealous  llecollect  was  ^atheiiii',' 
wliat  he  c(»uld  of  the  Huron  laui^nian'e,  arrani>-inu:,  studyintf,  eii- 
deavorintr  to  discover  sonie  rule  or  e;uidi'  in  its  strani^e  and  unu- 
sual comhinations.  \\'lH'n  Champlain  returned  in  Jaiui.ary,  the 
missionary  accomj>anied  him  to  the  mountains  *^»f  tlu;  TionontaicN. 
hut,  in  Ids  endeavors  to  announce  the  truth,  sutfered  much  fiom 
the  |H'rsecutiou  of  the  <  >his,  or  medicine-men;  consoled,  like  iIk' 
l)ominican.'^at  the  Coosa,  only  by  the  baptism  of  some  dyinfjj'  bah<- 
ai.d  a<iuits.  Itelurnini;  to  his  Huron  mission,  ho  labored  on  till 
t!u»  llolilla  j)r<  ;<-ired  to  descend  to  Three  Kivei's,  and  emharkeij 
'Niih  a  considerable  knowledge  of  the  people,  and  a  vocabulary 
of  stdne  extent.* 

♦  l.c  Clorcq,  Etabliisscment  do  hi  Foi,  i.  72-8!> ;  Siigunl,  Histoiro  chi  Cm- 
u<hi,  c-h.  iii. 


FRKXCH    MTSSTOX.S. 


1(17 


LriuMiav,  I' I 
is ;  Kathtr 
:k1  wt'stciii 

iul»',  he  set 
IV  loni;.  or 
Lj»!  at  til'- 
th(i  infill !<• 
tilt'  W.'ii- 
iiist  witliiii 
•  f«»rty  fc.t 
:>ut,  t'cailt'VN 
II  the  l)usy 
:i  was  S(Miii 
l>y  ottViiiii,' 
}  few  oouii 


i> 


tlic  lic.'irt 

walls   ainl 

ixatliniii'j: 

■In  itiif,  fti- 

aiul  uiiu- 

luary,  thr 

ii<»iitai«'N 

u»h  lioiii 

,  lik.-  ill" 

iiiijf  lialx-' 

v(l  oil  till 

<iiil>ark»»l 

ocalml.irv 


It) 


Tlio  woiglit  ot'  tlif  j^tMioral  tlirt'('tlt»ii  t)t'  lh«>  mi-  is,  wliicli  iiow 
(Icvtdvftl  oil  liim,  as  wt-ll  as  tlo*  iiffi'ssitv  t»f  attfiuliiii":  tt)  tiil>«\s 
lit  aitr  (^iu'l)oc,  ill  tlif  uiiscftlt'tl  stato  tit'  tin*  cidtniv,  |>r«'V<'iit(.'<l  his 
i<  turn  tor  stMiK'  yt'ai's,  altlitniifh  FatluT  William  r»>iilaiii  visited 
tin-  lliimiis  in  1022.  Ill  tlit^  tollt>wintx  yt-ar,  KatlitT  Niclit.las  \"\v\, 
:tii'l  llrtitlitT  (!al>iit'l  Sai^anl,  tin-  liisttH'iaii,  anivt'il,  aiitl  Katlwr  Lc 
<  aittii  sft  tuit  with  tlifiii  tor  his  mission,  lioafhintr  ('aiTaiftjuha, 
t.r  St.(ial>ri('l,  oil  the  2Ut]it>t'  Aiiijiist,  after  all  their  lianlships,  they 
toiiiul  his  cabin  stan^lin^^  aiitl  here  ivnewetl  the  oomiminity  life  <jf 
till'  tdiler  of  St.  Francis,  in  jutverty  of  all  thintrs.  Their  little  cahin, 
iinw  repaired,  was  lik*;  that  of  the  natives,  a  mere  framework,  liko 
an  arltor,  ctiveietl  without  with  strips  of  ])ark,  aiiil  linetl  within 
wiili  thin  itii'ces  lA'  hoaitl.*  Here  tliev  lal)t»reil  as  well  as  thev 
toiild,  atteiitlinn"  tt>  thti  sjiiiitiial  wants  of  the  I'Veiichmen  wht)  hail 
aii-nnipaiiieU  them,  learninu^  the  lanjjfuaire  of  the  peoj»le,  .-ukI  eii- 
ileavoiing  tt>  dispel  some  of  their  su|»erstitioiis,  ami  to  slietl  on  their 
hi-nii^hted  minds  some  ray  of  ifospel  liijjht.  Won  l>y  their  poverty 
and  austere  lif#,  some  liitlians  pitched  their  cabins  near  them,  and 
the  baptism  of  two  adults,  a  father  ami  daui:;hter,  gave  hopes  of  a 
piinianeiit  antl  successful  mission. 

When  Slimmer  arriveil.  Father  Le  Caron  determineil  to  return 
with  Mrother  Saij;:ard,  leaving  the  labi>rioiis  \'iei  to  continut'  the 
mission,  ■which  lie  ditl  for  another  vear,  thoiigli  with  little  success. 
Hard  intlcetl  was  the  missionary's  life.  "Our  <»rtlinary  footl,"  says 
•  as  that  of  the  Imlians  that  is  tt>  sav,  sauamitv,  a 


iuon. 


w 


be  C 

kind  i>f  pottage  matle  of  bruisetl  Indian  ctjrn,  sipiashes  and  y>eas 
bi'ileil  in  water,  seasoned  with  maijoram,  piiislaiie,  ami  a  kiml  t.)f 
balsam,  ^\ith  wild  onion,  which  we  found  in  tlie  wocwis  and  fieltls. 
<  Mir  think  was  the  water  of  the  stream  which  ran  before  the  cabin; 
ami  if,  when  the  trees  were  in  sap,  any  one  was  unwell,  we  matle 
an  incision  in  the  bark  of  a  mai»le,  whenet'  tlowetl  a  sugary  water, 


i. 


ro  till  *':in- 


*  Sagard,  ch.  \iii;  I.e  Clercq,  i.  249 


108 


AMKUICAN   CATirOMC   MTSSTON.S. 


i 


H' 


wliicli,  iM'iiii;  ^atlicn'tl  in  Iwirk  trays,  was  drunk  as  a  soverrinrii 
reiiit'dv.  Our  only  caiullcs  wt'ic  lilll"  rolls  of  ])ark,  which  lasted 
hut  a  monuMit,  so  that  w«»  wen*  ohli^^fd  t»>  road  and  writo  hy  tlif 
\\ff}.\\  of  the  iii(^  durini;  the  winter  evcnini^s,  which  was  a  uic.ii 
Their  little  i^^-irden,  tilietl  with  an  old  axe  i\u<\ 


inconvenience 


a  i>oinled  stake,  could  yield  them  little;  wine  for  the  mass  wii, 
pressed  from  the  wild  i;raj)e  of  the;  country.* 

After  overcomini;'  the  LTi'eat  dillieulty  whi<'h  the  lano-uajX''  l>ie- 
senti'd  hv  its  want  of  abstract  terms.  Father  Vid  heiran  his  in- 
structions hv  teachinir  the  IndiaJi  to  recite  the  ordinary  i>ravers. 
Many  attended  the  instructions,  hut  from  the  unmoved  countenanc', 
the  missionary  couM  not  <liscover  whether  it  was  politeness,  inlfi- 
est,  friendship,  or  cotiviction  that  drew  the  Indians  around  him. 
Oj>p()sition  to  ( 'hi'istianity  as  a  new  doctrine  they  did  not  appeur 
to  have,  for  it  had  not  yet  sutHcient  development  among  them  tc 
excite  the  medicine-men.  Hence  ]^e  Caron  wrote  :  "  Xo  one  mii>t 
come  here  in  hojH-s  of  sutferinu^  martyrdom  ;  they  are  inca])al'I'' 
of  puttinc^  a  man  to  <leaih  in  hatred  of  the  faith."  •  i^y  an  error  ef 
judgment,  which  is  very  common  with  our  Protcstatit  writei-s,  tli^ 
early  Ivecolleets  believed  tin;  conversion  of  the  tril)Os  impossililc 
till  Canada  was  peopled  and  the  Indians  familiarized  and  settled 
among  the  French.f  Time  has  shown  the  fallacy  of  this  hope : 
the  Amei'ican  Indian  has  never  coaU'sced  with  the  Eurf»pe;m. 
as  the  (Joth,  Koman,  Celt,  and  Iherian  in  Spain,  or  other  tribes  in 
r)fher  j)arts  of  the  <  )ld  World,  have  coalesced  with  each  otliei'. 
In   ^h•xico  and    Peru,  the  natives  were,  to  a  considerable  extent. 

fused  into  the  mass  of  colonists,  but  elsewhere  the  social  ditleni 

was  too  o-reat  to  allow  any  sjich  uniou  of  the  races,  and  the  Iu<li;iu 
showed  no  adaptability  to  the  usages  of  Europe. 

The  Ivecolleets,  however,  were  not  dispfvsed  to  leave  tho  Induni- 
in  darkness.     Content  to  hdjor,  even  nlmoiit  in  vain,  they  griiveil 


*  Le  Clercr],  i.  26: J. 


t  Ibid. 


FKKNCII    MISSIONS. 


101) 


t.i  >•'»•  tlicir  t'lVoits  tliwaitttl  l>\  tlif  avaritf  <>t'  tluir  ioiuitrviiu'ii, 
mkI  !o(»k«.'(l  aroiiiul  \\>v  snmc  hkhc  [lowntul  oitltT  to  second  tlirm 
ill  ilu'ir  i;»mm1  work.     'I'lif  J»'>uits  \\illiii^;lv<'ml»ia<'tMl  tlic  oiler,  aii<l 


ill    IG'Jo,  Fatlu'is  Cliarlfs    I.alemaiit,  Ktliiiuii<l    Ma 


SM',    o 


I'    tlu>    ol<l 


Acinliau   inissioii,  and   J«»liu   d»'    Uivlx'uf,  landed  at  (^ucboc  witli 
iH'W  liecollcct  laKorci's.* 

KathiT  \k'l  I'rcjiart'd  to  di'sct-nd  to  Tliicc  Uivt'is,  to  niak«'  a 
iftri'at,  consult  his  ,su|»«Tit»is,  and  olitain  sonic  necessary  articles. 
Katlier  Hreln'ut'  and  the  Kecollect  .lose|ih  de  la  Itoclic  I>allion,  ot' 
the  house  of  tile  Counts  I  )u  Lud,  nncic  to  meet  hini  at  the  tradiiiiL;"- 
])ost,  on  the  desc«>nt  «)!'  the  annual  lur  llotilla  t'roni  lluroiiia,  an*!, 
uiidtT  his  pjuidance,  lahor  anionuf  the  \\  yandots ;  l.tit  they  never 
lint.  Shootin<^  th»'  last  rapid,  a  dannvrous  }»ass  in  I  ►es  I'rairies 
l;i\er,  beiiind  Montreal,  the  Indian  who  conducted  l'"ather  Viel, 
iVniii  soiMO  unexplained  hatre<|,  jiurled  him  and  a  little  Christian 
1">\  into  tht!  toaminij  torrent,  and  they  sunk  to  rise  no  moi-e.f  'J'o 
this  day  tiie  place  hears  the  name  ot'  the  ii('<'oll«'ci's  llapid. 

When  the  Huron  llotilla  arrived  at  IIik-.'  Ilivri>,  tJie  new 
mi'^sionaries  were  tilled  with  dismay.  l<j;noraiit  ot"  th  •  !;;n^ua^e, 
and  customs  ot*  the  people,  with  no  j^uidt'-^  or  attt-ndanis,  they 
tleenied  it  uusat'e  to  proceeil.  A  year  elapsetl,  and  no  mi>sionary 
was  in  the  cahins  of  the  lluroiis  ;  hut  wiu-n  the  u^ual  llotilla  ar- 
rived in  lO'JG,  lireheuf,  l>allion,  antl  the  Jesuit,  Anne  de  N«)ui;, 
pivpared  to  emhark  in  it,  heini^  now  prej»art.d  hy  some  knowletju-e 
of  tln'  lan^ua^e,  tlerivi'd  ttom  th«*  instructions  ot'  i.e  ( 'arotj  and 
hi>  manuscripts,  as  well  as  from  those  (»f  Father  \  iti.  The  Indians 
ifceived  d«.'  la  lioche  readily,  hut,  not  heiiin-  accustt>med  to  the 
.l«suit  hahit,  ohjected  to  the  portly  frame  of  Father  iheheuf.  l»y 
force  of  j)resents,  however,  he  and  his  companion  at  last  obtained 


*  I.alemnut :  Letter  in  Mcro.  FraiiQuis. 

+  LulLiiuuit  ill  Le  I'lerci,  i.  :]14,  a^:} ;  Siurard,  320 ;  Lo  (^Icroq,  i.  317.  No 
inti>rmutif)i>  is  e'wou  bv  any  of  tho^o  wri^TH  as  to  tho  uijo,  birthplace,  oj 
J'rovidiis  iatiurs  ot'Vit.'l. 


(? 


170 


amkimcan  (athokk!  missions. 


j  •  j 


n 


^- . 


a  |>lac<%  aiKi,  atUT  tli«*  ii>ii:il  palnrui  voya;^!*,  ail  anivcMl  at  tlu* 
Jliiruii  tuwii,  St.  (Jalniol  or  La  lioiln'IIo,*  ami  Iumc  tin*  Katlu'is 
rrsuiiKMl  the  lalxn-s  ot*  Le  I'aron  aixl  Vit'l. 

Ill  <)ct(»lH.'r,  Fatlh-r  do  la  Iuh'Iio  left  the  .lomiits  at  Toaiiche,  ami 
wt  out  to  oxjiloiv  the  eouiitiy  of  the  Attiwaiidaionk  or  NeiitraU. 
This  trihe  lay  on  hotli  >i«hs  ul  ilu;  \iaj/;'.ra  Itiver,  at  |H'ae«'  with 
hoth  liiiroiis  ainl  IrotjUuis,  and,  likt>  theiii,  of  the  same  stock  and 
i;iii^ii;i^»'.  lie  was  at  first  \\«'ll  received,  and  Immiij^  ado|»t»'d  hv 
Soharisscii,  tlu.'  chief  of  the  whole  nation,  took  up  liis  residence 
anioiii;  them  at  Ounontisastoii,  near  the  Seneca  horder,  hut  wn> 
s(»on  after  rohln'd  and  hrutallv  heaten  hv  a  lawless  iKirtv.  liv  the 
advice  t>f  Father  UrelnMif,  he  then  ahandoned  tho  Neutrals,  and 
returned  to  the  Iluntn  country,,  after  an  ahsenco  of  seveial 
months. 

Father  de  Xour  was  imahle  ti)  learn  tho  lancfuaifo,  and  de- 
scended to  i^>uehec  in  l(J*27.f  Father  De  la  lioeho  followed  him 
in  the  ('nsuinij;  year;  hut  theeneri^etic  ]irel>euf,  undett'rred  hy  the 
trouhles  of  the  colony,  lahored  on,  tjainini:;  tho  i»ood-will  of  the 
Indians,  and  ac<|uiring  alike  their  lanijuai^*'  and  their  manners  in 
a  way  that  endeared  him  to  their  hearts.  Ado|)te<l  hy  tho  nanus 
of  Kchon,  he  was  indeed  Wcomo  one  of  them,  and  had  hei^un  to 
move  their  flinty  liearts  to  fee!  the  necessity  of  religion,  so  that  lie 
defeated  the  j»lots  of  the  medicine-man  Tehoronhae;i(non.  When, 
in  1G29,  ho  received  an  order  from  liis  superior,  Father  Masse,  to 
como  to  Quebec,  the  Indians  crowded  around  liim.  "  AVliat, 
Echon  !  dost  thou  leave  us  ?     Thou  liast  been  here  now  three 


ti 


*  The  towTi,  called  ('nrRurouha  l>y  riintnplalii  nnd  Sarrard,  is  later  oalKu 
by  Sagard,  Tcquounoukiayc,  or  (.^inouindolian,  St.  Gabriel,  or  La  Koehillo 
(oh.  S). 

+  Father  vlo  Xoini  had  boon  a  |>a<ro  at  tho  court  of  Franco  before  enteriii!? 
the  Society  of  .losiis.  He  riturnod  to  Canada  in  1G;'.2,  and  after  r>eviral 
years  of  laborious  zeal,  was  frozen  to  death  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  near  l^le 
i'lattc,  about  the  tid  of  February.  1646.  See  a  sketch  of  his  death  in  Bres- 
pani,  Kclation  abrL'L"'o,  117. 


FnKX(*Tr    MISSION'S. 


171 


Vi-ar*  to  h'ani  our  lain^iuiLTt',  to  tfjicli  us  to  kiiuw  lliy  'iud,  to 
a<l<>i-i-  aii<l  s<'rv(>  iiiiii,  liaviiig  coiik-  Imt  tor  tli.it  cikI,  as  tlmu  liast 
sliuwn:  ainl  now,  wIk-u  tlioii  kiiowrst  our  laiiijuai^f  imoit  peili-ctly 
tliaii  any  otlicr  A^jnonlia  (KicnrliiMan),  tliou  l.-avt-st  us.  It' we  <lo 
Hot  know  tilt'  <mkI  tliou  adoit^st,  wf  slu;ll  call  liini  to  witiu'ss,  that 
it  is  not  our  fault,  Itu*  fliiuc  to  Icaw  us 


S(». 


Movt'tl  {IS  ln^  was  l»y  this  appeal,  ii»'  couM  not  yi<'I«l  to  lijs  jn- 
rlination  ami  their  mticatit's.  \\v  n'a<ho<l  (^udn'c  in  July,  tho'(! 
•lavs  iM't'orc  tho  Kiiirlish,  li-tl  l»v  the  traitor  Kirk,  rai>tiu't'<l  \he  citv, 
an<l  (K'stroyiMl  in  a  inoiUiMit  the  hopes  of  Chainplain. 

Tin'  previous  year  »liat  oallant  naviijfator  had  by  his  bold  <le- 

countrvniaii  who   foULcht  under   tho    cross 


tianco  driven    i»tl 


le 


of  St.    (leorjje;  but    ii(»w,  destitute   of  supi)lies   and   of  arms,   1 
yielded  to  the  invadr'r.     The   Keeolleet  Fathers  Ljained   the  tjoo<|- 
ill  of  Kirk,  but    th<'  Jesuits  all   exiM-rienced   his  hatred  of  their 


\v 


<»rd«-r,  and  lirebfufs  lit'e  especially  was  in  danijer.  Mastt-r  of  the 
fttuntrv.  Kirk  rrsulvotl  to  make  it  a  desert :  llftv  years  boforo  they 
woulil  have  been  j>ut  to  the  sword,  but  the  ferocity  of  the  religious 
t'.uds  W51S  passinjx  away,  and  he  merely  plundered  all,  carr^ini;  otl' 
L'lianiplain  and  the  missionaries  to  Kni^land. 

Kroni  Kui^land,  ho  C'artui,  Urebeuf,  and  their  associates  ])assed 
to  France,  to  deplore  the  ruin  of  th<.'ir  labtu's.  Of  the  Huron 
mission  scarce  a  shadow  remaine<l.  A  few  converts  at  Carra- 
Ifmiha.  not  yet  well  ufrounded  in  the  faith,  remained  alone  in  tho 
midst  of  barbarism  and  infidelity.  In  France  there  was  one  Jliuvn 
Catholic,  a  yountf  man,  who  had  l)een  baptized  with  great  cero- 
mcMiy  at  IJouen,  and  was  now  at  a  Jesuit  college. 

The  missionaries  did  not  despair  of  returning  to  Canada,  and  aj)- 
plied  themselves  to  the  study  of  the  language  from  the  materials 
wliieh  each  liad  brought.  Sagard  drew  uj)  his  history  of  Canada, 
and  a  Huron  vocabulary  to  accompany   it ;    and  Brebi'uf,  after 


*  Clmmpluin,  \'oynv'Cs,  210. 


0^         ^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


A' 


1.0    ^>^  1^ 


I.I 


11.25 


iim 

1.4    11.6 


6" 


VQ 


7 


%^^ 


*^ 


y 


/^ 


Photographic 

Sdences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M5S0 

(716)  873-4503 


'4^ 


0 


4- 


172 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


completely  I'evising  his  Huron  version  of  Father  Ledesma's  cate- 
chism, liad  it  pubiislied  in  Fi'encli  and  Huron  by  Champlain,  as 
an  appendix  to  the  last  edition  of  his  Voyages.* 


I|. 


i:.f 


l-i 


,1" 


n 


CHAPTER   VI. 

HURON    MISSION (CONTINUED.) 

Mission  restored — ^The  Jesuits  alone  return  on  tlie  refusal  of  the  Capuchins — Brebcuf, 
Daniel,  and  Davost  among  the  llurons — Mission  of  St.  Josepli  at  Ihonatiria— Mission 
system — New  missionaries  and  new  missions — Huron  college  at  Quebec — The  voyairos 
of  the  Fathers — Their  trials — Tlie  pestilence— The  first  convert — They  are  suspoctid 
— Plots  ajrainst  tlieir  lives — Courajre  of  Brebenf  and  liis  associates — New  mission  of  St. 
Joseph's  at  Teananstayae — Mission  at  Ossossane,  Scanonaenrat,  Taenhatentaron,  ami 
among  the  Tionontates — New  persecution. 

To  the  joy  of  all  interested  in  the  conversion  of  the  Hurons, 
Canada  was  restored  in  1632,  but  there  seemed  a  design  toexclml*^ 
the  former  missionaries.  The  Capuchins  were  invited  to  undortalco 
the  work  of  converting  the  natives,  but  as  they  declined,  tlie 
mission  was  confided  to  the  Jesuits,  and  the  Recollects  were  ex- 
cluded by  the  company  foi*med  to  govern  the  colony .f 

Father  Brebeuf  arrived  in  1633,  and  almost  at  the  same  time 
Louis  Amantacha,  a  Christian  Huron,  came  in  to  announce  tlio 
approach  of  the  Huron  flotilla.  In  a  solemn  council,  held  after 
its   arrival,  the   chiefs  agreed   to  receive  the  missionaries,  aiul 


*  Father  Le  Caron,  after  a  vain  struggle  witli  the  mercantile  company  wlio 
rnled  Canada,  finding  himself  unable,  even  with  the  approval  of  the  Propii- 
ganda,  to  reach  his  belo^'cd  mission,  of  which  he  was  now  procurator,  dii<l 
broken-hearted,  on  the  29th  of  March,  1632.  Lo  Clcrcr4,  Etab.  i.  4:-)d.  Ho 
was  a  man  of  eminent  piety,  zeal,  and  virtue  ;  and  as  founder  of  the  Ilunm 
mission,  one  of  the  greatest  servants  of  God  in  the  annals  of  the  Ameri- 
can missions.  His  nephew,  the  Sulpitian  Souart,  at  a  later  date  revived 
the  memory  of  his  virtues  in  Canada. 

t  Bressani,  Relation  abr^geo,  295  ;  Le  Clercq,  i.  438. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


173 


Fathers  lirebeuf,  Daniel,  and  1  )avost,  prepared  to  depart ;  but,  as 
the  Algonquins  of  the  Ottawa  River  dechircd  that  none  sliould 
pass  tlirough  it,  they  were  forced  to  remain  till  another  year. 
New  difficulties  then  arose.  The  llurons  having  been  recently 
(Ict'eated  in  a  battle,  with  severe  loss,  were  little  inclined  to  take 
missionaries ;  but  at  last  yielded  to  the  remonsti-ance  of  Duplessis 
Hochart,  the  commander  of  tlie  fleet;  and  the  three  missionaries 
were  separately  embarked.  Their  voyage  was  one  of  unusual 
hardship  :  the  difficulties  of  the  way,  the  rapids,  portages,  and  toil 
of  paddling,  were  still  the  same  that  has  been  before  described  ;  want 
of  food  supervened,  and  Father  Daniel  was  finally  abandoned  by  his 
party,  and  only  with  great  difficulty  reached  the  Huron  country. 
Father  de  Brebeuf  was  taken  indeed  to  the  site  of  his  old  residence, 
Toanche,  but  there  was  abandoned.  Nevertheless  he  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  new  village  Ihonatiria,  and  was  received  with  rap- 
turous joy  by  all.  Here,  in  the  cabin  of  the  hospitable  Awandoren, 
he  welcomed  Father  Daniel  and  poor  F'ather  Davost,  who  had  suf- 
fered most  of  all. 

AVhen  recovered  from  their  fatigue,  the  three  Fathers  resolved  to 
begin  the  mission  at  this  town,  and  in  September  erected  a  log- 
house  thirty-six  feet  long  by  twenty-one  wide,  whicli,  being  divided 
off,  gave  them  a  house  and  chapel.  This  poor  edifice  and  its  fur- 
niture were  a  never-ending  wonder  to  the  natives  ;  and  a  striking- 
clock,  possessed  by  the  Fathere,  was,  they  were  sure,  a  strange  ani- 
mal from  the  east,  though  how  it  lived  without  eating,  Avas  a  mat- 
tor  of  dispute  among  the  sages  of  the  village. 

r)rebeuf  meanwhile  instructed  his  companions  in  the  Huron 
language,  and  sent  them  to  tlie  cabins  to  acquire  as  many  words 
as  possible.  This  was  a  most  trying  method,  but  desirous  of  gain- 
ing souls,  and  equally  desirous  of  mortification,  they  persevered  in 
it.  As  soon  as  they  were  able,  Daniel  and  Davost  assisted  him  in 
teaching  the  catechism  and  prayers  to  the  childien.  On  Sundays  all 
\N  ho  came  were  allowed  to  hear  mass  to  the  oftertoiy  according  to  the 


174 


AMERICAN   CATUOLIC   MISSIONS. 


I 


A 


custom  of  the  primitive  church.*  A  desire  of  embracing  the 
faith  soon  rewarded  the  zeal  of  the  missionaries ;  and  the  devil, 
fei'ring  to  lose  his  empire,  urged  his  ministei-s,  the  medicine-men, 
and  especially  Tehoronhaegnon,  to  accuse  the  Fathers  of  causiug  a 
drought,  which  threatened  their  crops.  The  cross  was  the  especial 
object  of  the  hate  of  these  impostors.  It  wfus,  they  declared,  the 
instrument  of  witchcraft  of  the  Fathei's,  and  they  threatened  to 
break  down  the  one  which  towered  before  the  residence  of  St. 
Joseph.  But  the  prayere  of  the  missionaries  and  their  catechu- 
mens soon  opened  the  flood-gates  of  heaven,  and  defeated  the 
enemies  of  the  Cross. 

In  the  summer  two  new  missionaries.  Father  Francis  le  Mercier 
and  Peter  Pijart,  came  to  their  aid  ;  and  the  fearless  Brebeuf,  at 
the  Feast  of  the  Dead,f  where  thousands  of  every  clan  assembled, 
declaimed  against  the  native  superstitions  with  all  the  eloquence 
and  zeal  of  an  apostle.  With  several  missionaries  now  to  aid  him, 
he  extended  his  sphere  of  action.  Other  villages  were  visited, 
among  them  Teananstayae,  the  largest  of  all,  the  residence  of  Louis 
deSte.Foi,  who,  after  being  baptized  at  Rouen,  had  returned  to  his 
native  woods,  and  lived  like  one  that  knew  not  Christ.  By  this 
visit  of  the  Fathers,  his  fervor  was  restored,  and  his  family,  coii- 
verted  to  the  faith,  implored  the  missionaries  to  take  up  their  resi- 
dence there. 

To  propitiate  the  favor  of  heaven,  the  mission  was  now  solemnly 
dedicated  to  the  Immaculate  Conception  ;  and,  to  avoid  any  hasty 

*  Rel.  Huron,  1G3d. 

t  The  Hurons  enveloped  their  dead  in  bark,  and  laid  them  on  scafFoIda 
in  their  oigosaye  or  cemetery.  Here  they  remained  till  the  "  Feast  of  the 
Dead,"  which  took  place  usually  every  eight  or  ten  years.  At  this  period 
the  bones  were  taken  down,  stripped  of  any  flesh  that  might  remain,  wrapped 
in  fine  furs,  and,  after  many  games  and  ceremonies,  deposited,  with  presents, 
in  a  common  grave,  also  lined  with  furs.  These  trenches,  sometimes  cn-cii- 
hir,  at  others  rectilinear,  are  the  "  bone-pits"  which  our  farmers  frequentlv 
strike  upon  in  turning  up  the  soil  near  the  site  of  ancient  Huron  and  Iro- 
quois towns.    Sec  Brcssani,  Brebeuf,  Lafitau. 


FRENCH  MISSIONS. 


175 


step,  the  missionanes  resolved  to  remain  another  year  at  Ihona- 
tiria,  and  then  remove  to  Ossossane,  a  hirge  and  well-fortified  town. 
In  order  to  give  stability  to  their  labors,  they  now  resolved  to 
found  a  Huron  school  at  Quebec,  where  some  boys  might  be 
trained  up  in  religion  and  the  arts  of  life,  who,  on  their  return, 
would  form  a  nucleus  in  the  tribe,  inasmuch  as  it  was  found  very 
difficult  to  keep  them  regularly  at  school  in  their  own  countiy.* 
Accordingly,  in  the  summer  of  1630,  twelve  boys  were  collected, 
and  Fathers  Daniel  and  Davost  prepared  to  lead  them  to  Quebec ; 
]>ut  when  the  period  of  departure  came,  three  only  were  found  firm 
enough  to  resist  a  mother's  tears. 

AVith  these  the  missionaries  departed.  Used  to  toil,  they  took 
their  paddles,  and,  barefooted  and  in  rags,  journeyed  to.  Quebec. 
But  a  better  spirit  was  now  gaining  ground :  the  llurons  had 
learned  to  respect  the  priestly  character.  On  their  way  the 
Fathei-s  met  new  missionaries,  Garnier  and  Chatelain,  who,  thanks 
to  the  kind  chief  Aenons,  sat  comfortably  in  the  canoes,  and  were 
not  compelled  to  paddle.  Soon  after  another.  Father  Isaac  Jogues, 
arrived  ;  but  with  their  coming,  -^  pestilential  disorder  broke  out, 
and  swept  the  land  of  the  Hurons.  The  missionaries  were  pros- 
trated by  it,  but  all  finally  recovered,  and  rushed  to  the  care  of 
the  sick  and  dying.  Every  village  resounded  with  the  orgies, 
games,  feasts,  and  other  rites,  in  honor  of  the  demon  Autoerhj, 
ordered  by  the  medicine-men,  in  whom  the  natives  had  unbounded 
confidence,  and  who  attributed  the  scourge  to  the  anger  of  that 
god.  Amid  this  tumult  the  missionaries  continued  their  task. 
The  catechumens  were  the  first  objects  of  their  solicitude  :  no  effort 
was  spared  to  prevent  their  dying  unbaptized;  but  when  the 
modicine-men  accused  the  Fathers  of  being  the  authoi-s  of  the  dis- 
ease, the  j^eople  drove  the  latter  from  'their  cabias. 

Persevering  in  charity,  they  at  last  overcame  much  of  the  oppo- 


•  'J 

IS 


*  Kel.  Huron,  July,  1686. 


176 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


• 

- 
i 

i   ;: 

'■      ■ 

■ 

^'           1 

4 

t 


4 
J   . 

^ 

■                 . 

P  ' 

' 

if  , 

1 

sition,  and  even  induced  the  chiefs  of  Ihonatiria,  Wenno,  and 
Ossossane,  to  promise  solemnly,  in  the  presence  of  God,  to  renounce 
their  superstitions,  embrace  the  faith  of  Chiist,  bring  their  mar- 
riages  to  the  Christian  standard,  and  build  chapels  to  the  living 
(irod.  But  this  engagement  was  insincere  :  the  Ilurons  soon 
crowded  around  the  medicine-man  Tonneraiianont,  who  vaunto<l 
that  he  was  a  devil  incarnate.  All  through  the  summer,  fall,  and 
winter,  the  malady  continued  its  ravages,  and  the  missionaries 
their  charitable  visits,  through  all  the  large,  and  many  of  the 
smaller  villages  of  the  Hurons,  and  even  to  those  of  the  Tionon- 
tates.  The  I'csult  of  these  laborious  missions,  fraught  as  they  were 
with  every  danger,  was  most  consoling :  thirty  journeys,  often 
through  snow  and  ice,  from  town  to  town,  had  enabled  them,  be- 
sides the  bodily  cures  their  skill  effected,  to  open  the  gates  of 
heaven,  by  baptism,  to  250  dying  children  and  adults,  on  the 
former  of  whom,  indeed,  they  often  conferred  the  rite  by  a  strata- 
gem. Thus  we  find  Father  Pijart,  when  rudely  repulsed  fi"om  a 
cabin,  whose  inmates  refused  to  have  their  dying  babe  baptized, 
ofter  to  give  it  some  sugar  to  relieve  it,  and,  as  he  applied  it  to 
the  lips  of  the  suflerer,  press  from  a  wet  cloth  on  the  fevered  brow 
drops  of  water,  enough  to  baptize  it,  and  depart  unsuspected  by 
the  Indians,  wlio  had  watched  him.  More,  however,  do  we  ad- 
mire the  missionary,  when  we  find  him  by  the  couch  of  a  child 
above  the  age  of  reason,  whom  he  could  not  consequently  baptize 
without  instruction  and  an  avowal  of  faith.  There  he  spent  a 
weary  night,  imploring  the  intercession  of  St.  Joseph,  patron  of  all 
their  American  missions,  and  instructing  the  parents.  Reason  at 
last  returned  ;  the  child,  docile  to  his  teaching,  was  speedily  bap- 
tized, and  died  in  great  sentiments  of  piety. 

The  new  missionaries,  as  soon  as  the  sickness  had  spent  its  force, 
applied  to  the  study  of  the  language,  iu  which  Brebeuf,  theii 
t»?acher,  had  now  made  great  discoveries,  and  had  completely 
analyzed  its  system  of  conjugations.     In  May,  the  Fathers  began, 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


177 


at  Ossossano,  the  residence  of  tlie  Inimaciilate  Coiu'eptioti ;  and  on 
Trinity  Sunday,  for  the  first  time,  baptized  an  adult  iu  health. 
This  convert,  who  liad  been  long  tided,  and  took  in  baptism  the 
name  of  Peter  Tsiwendaentaha,  never  pi'oved  recreant  to  the  grace 
he  had  received.* 

Meanwhile  the  Huron  seminary  at  (Quebec,  on  which  so  many 
fund  hopes  rested,  gave  little  liope  of  success ;  and  to  dash  still 
more  the  prospects  of  Christianity  on  the  Huron  Lakes,  the  sum- 
mer of  1637  witnessed  the  pestilence  return  with  renewed  fury  in 
their  fated  country.  The  calumnies  against  the  missionaries  daily 
increased  :  not  only  the  medicine-men  and  the  common  jDcople, 
but  even  the  chiefs  openly  charged  the  missionanes  with  destroy- 
ing the  land  by  witchcraft.  They  were  now  in  constant  danger  of 
death,  as  by  the  Indian  custom  any  one  may  strike  down  a  wizard. 
The  mode  of  life  pursued  by  the  missionaries  became  a  matter  of 
constant  suspicion ;  the  mass,  their  prayers  at  night,  their  clock, 
cross,  a  flag  above  their  cabin,  all  were  in  turn  suspected.  They 
justified  themselves  in  a  council  at  Angoutenc,  but  in  August  a 
general  council  of  the  three  great  tribes  was  held,  at  which 
Ontitarac,  the  blind  and  venerable  sachem,  presided.  The  mission- 
aries were  required  to  give  up  a  cloth  in  which  they  had  wrapped 
the  pestilence.  Brebeuf  fearlessly  denied  the  charge,  and,  though 
interrupted,  ascribed  the  fatal  effects  of  the  malady  to  their  own 
superstitions  and  improper  treatment,  while  he  declared  that  its 
cause  God  only  could  know.  This  produced  some  effect,  but  all 
ex})ected  that  one  at  least  would  be  killed.  In  October  their  cabin 
was  set  on  fire,  and  Brebeuf  then  drew  up  a  letter  to  the  Superior 
at  Quebec,  which  was  signed  by  all  the  missionaries  at  Ossossane, 
himself,  Le  Mercier,  Chastellain,  Garnier,  and  Ragueneau ;  the 
other  two,  Jogues  and  Pijart,  being  still  at  Ihonatiria.  "  We 
are,"  it  begins,  "  probably  on  the  point  of  shedding  our  blood  in 

*  Eel.  Huron,  1636-7,  dated  June  21,  1637  ;  (iurnier's  Letters. 

8* 


178 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


11 


ll 


1.  i\ 


':  !ili 


i  n 


tlio  service  of  our  blessed  master,  Jesus  Clinst.  His  goodness  a\>- 
parently  vouchsafes  to  accept  this  sacrifice  in  expiation  of  my  great 
and  countless  sins,  and  to  crown  the  past  services  and  the  great 
and  burning  desires  of  all  our  Fathers  liere." 

Grieving  only  to  leave  their  few  Chnstians  desolate,  they  con- 
fided their  altar  furniture  and  Huron  manuscripts  to  Peter,  their 
proto-convert.  Then,  as  council  after  council  was  convened,  and 
l^rebeuf  repeatedly  examined,  they  prepared  to  die ;  and  on  the 
day  named  for  their  execution  gave,  in  accordance  with  Huron 
custom,  their  dying  banquet.  Their  undaunted  demeanor  had  its 
eft'ect.  Summoned  once  more  to  a  council,  13rebeuf  at  last  con- 
vinced the  assembled  sachems  of  his  innocence  ;  and  as  he  left  the 
cabin,  saw  a  medicine-man,  his  greatest  pei-secutor,  tomahawed  by 
his  side.  Believing  that  in  the  dusk  the  avenger  had  mistaken  his 
victim,  he  asked,  "  Was  that  for  me  ?"  "  No,"  was  the  reply ; 
"  he  was  a  wizard,  thou  art  not." 

During  all  this  period  of  danger,  thus  happily  closed,  the 
missionaries,  confined  to  Ossossane  and  Ihonatiria,  had  been  untiring 
in  their  labors.  Cabins  were  closed  indeed,  but  they  persevered 
in  their  visits,  their  instruction,  and  study.  Their  zeal  was  not 
unrewarded.  Joseph  Chihatenhwa,  whose  after  life  was  that  of  a 
saint,  was  baptized,  and  the  first  war-chief  of  the  confederacy 
solicited  the  same  favor.* 

Banquets  and  councils  restored  their  popularity,  and,  as  the 
malady  decreased  in  the  spring,  they  enjoyed  greater  freedom. 
The  conversion  of  Joseph's  wife  enabled  them  to  solemnize  the  firet 
marriage,  and  at  last,  in  1638,  two  Christian  families  rewarded 
their  long  years  of  toil. 

Ihonatiria,  wasted  by  disease,  was  now  in  ruins,  and  the  mission 
of  St.  Joseph  was  transferred  in  the  spring  to  Teananstayae,  and  a 
chapel   erected  in  June.      Somewhat  later  a  reinforcement  of 

♦  Rel.  1688,  Huron ;  Garnier's  Letters. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


170 


missionaries  aiiived,  with  Father  Daniel.  One  of  theso,  Jerome 
J.aloinant,  was  nearly  slain  on  the  way ;  the  other  two,  Simon  Lo 
Moyne  and  Francis  du  Perron,  met  with  the  usual  hardships,  but 
arrived  safely.* 

The  two  missions  now  contained  four  Fathers  each,  while  two 
(ttlicrs  were  constantly  visiting  the  other  towns.  Gamier  and 
.lof^ucs,  moreover,  wintered  among  the  Petuns,  to  begin,  amid 
eveiy  opposition,  a  new  mission  among  that  tribe.  Many  converts 
now  declared  themselves,  but  a  greater  number  were  found  in  the 
Wenro,  a  tribe  which  sought  refuge  in  the  Huron  ten-itory  from 
Iroquois  cruelty.  The  labore  of  the  missionaries  soon  created,  too, 
the  mission  of  St.  Michael  at  the  town  of  Scanonaenrat,  itself  a 
tribe,  known  as  perfect  fiends ;  Taenhatentaron  became  the  mis- 
sion station  of  St.  Ignatius.  At  the  fixed  missions  all  was  now 
regularly  conducted,  and  day  by  day  instructions  for  young  and 
old  went  on ;  while  on  Sunday  a  missionary,  in  the  Indian  style, 
travei-sed  the  streets  to  call  all  to  prayer.  The  chapels  were 
crowded,  and  the  faith  now  seemed  about  to  take  root  in  the  land. 
Amid  this  smiling  prospect  a  new  storm  arose,  which  had  well 
nigh  crushed  the  mission.  A  squaw  demanded  that  the  mission- 
aries should  offer  a  blanket  to  a  beautiful  woman  holding  an 
infant  in  her  arms,  who  had  appeared  to  her  in  a  dream,  avd 
among  other  gifts  from  various  tribes  and  individuals,  required  fruii- 
the  missionaries  a  blanket,  as  an  otFering  to  her,  the  sovereign  of 
the  country.  The  dream  is  the  gi*eat  deity  of  the  Indian ;  it  can- 
not be  disobeyed,  yet  here  the  missionaries  could  not  obey.  Their 
lives  were  in  danger,  but  they  pei-sisted,  although  the  idea  of  the 
woman  doubtless  arose  from  some  picture  of  the  Virgin  Mother, 
and  might  perhaps  have  been  turned  to  advantage  by  less  scrupu- 
lous men.  But  they  resolved  to  grant  nothing  to  the  idolatry  of 
dreams,  and  at  last  triumphed.     These  troubles  gave  them  influ- 


*  Eel.  1638,  New  France,  162-75. 


180 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


■   .; 


f: 


ence;  and  at  this  time,  tlie  spring  of  1639,  they  had  nearly  tifty 
who  had  made  their  first  comnmnion :  and  the  mission  win 
founded  never  to  peiisli.* 

With  the  sunnner  niore  missionaries  arrived ; — Chaumonot, 
destined  to  outlive  all  his  companions,  and  Poncet,  a  martyr  of  mor- 
tification, who,  after  hufj;  sufferings  and'toils  in  Canada,  died  in 
Martinique.  Unfortunately,  the  Indian  flotilla  brought  back  from 
Quebec,  along  with  S^uropean  goods,  the  small-pox — the  greatest 
scourge  of  the  red-man — conveyed,  apparently,  in  some  clothes. 
As  this  deadly  distemper  ravaged  village  after  village,  and  the 
Indian,  terror-struck,  hastened  death  by  his  own  act,  all  turned 
again  on  the  missionaries.  To  them,  as  on  the  fonner  occasion, 
all  ascribed  their  misery,  and  on  them  they  wreaked  their  ven- 
geance. The  missionaries,  now  thiileen  in  number,  were  again 
exposed  to  every  danger.  The  crosses  on  their  dwellings  were 
thrown  down ;  the  furious  votaries  of  the  demons  entered  their 
cabins ;  tomahawks  often  glittered  over  the  heads  of  the  Fathers ; 
their  crucifixes  were  torn  fi'om  them,  and  one  was  ciiielly  beaten. 
Yet  amid  all  this  the  zealous  envoys  of  the  gospel  did  not  falter  or 
shrink  from  their  perilous  duties.  They  visited  every  village ;  used 
every  effort  to  reach  the  sick,  and  rouse  them  to  renounce  idolatry 
or  sin, — though  often  expelled  from  the  cabins,  and  beholding  in 
the  ranks  of  their  persecutors  men  already  bathed  in  the  waters 
of  baptism,  but  too  weak  to  resist  their  countiymen.  Often  a 
missionary,  after  toiling  all  day  through  the  snow,  reached  a  vil- 
lage to  be  repulsed,  or  entered  it  to  be  watched  as  a  sorcerer ;  but 
their  steady  perseverance  triumphed,  and  they  all  passed  the  or- 
deal scathless,  after  having  borne  salvation  to  hundreds. 

*  Rel.  1639. 


4  ^ 


CHAPTER   VII. 

lILltON    MISSION (continued.) 

Plan  of  tlio  TiilsMon  clian<;i'(l — St.  Mary's  founded — Mission  of  St.  John — The  noiglihor- 
ins  Alffonquins — Broheuf  and  C'haumonot  aiiionj;  tiie  Attiwandaronk — Gradual  pro- 
cri'ss  of  tiio  faltli — The  C'iiri.stiiins  styled  Marimis — The  AI;.'onfiiiin  niis.sions — Tlio 
IriMin(ds  war — Ciipturo  of  Fathers  Jofrues  and  IJrossani — Inereasod  fervor— Mission 
plan  again  changed — A  inninent  of  peace — Tlie  war  renewed — Teananstayao  de- 
stroyed, and  Daniel  killed— Panic  of  the  Hurons — Town  deserted— St.  Louis  and  St. 
Itriiatius  destroyed — Death  of  Brebeuf  and  Lalerniint- lliiin  of  the  Hurons — The 
!<eanonaenrat  remove  to  New  York — Others  flee  to  dillerent  tribes — St.  Mary's  burnt, 
and  mission  removed  to  St.  Joseph's  Isle — The  IVtun  towns  attacked— Death  of 
Gamier  and  Chabanel — A  considerable  body  descend  to  Quebec. 

The  Uuron  mission,  of  whicli  wo  liavo  thus  tiaccd  the  history, 
was,  as  we  have  seen,  like  the  present  Catholic-  mission  in  the 
United  States.  A  few  Catholics  mingled  in  among  those  who  op- 
posed them,  often  with  the  greatest  virulence  and  hatred.*  No 
town  of  neophytes  gathered  by  the  Jesuits  existed,  as  is  com- 
monly supposed,  nor  was  a  single  mission  village  ever  fonned  in 
Uuronia.  The  frequent  persecutions,  liowever,  now  induced  tlie 
Superior  to  alter  the  plan  of  action  which  we  have  seen  them  thus 
far  pursue.  It  was  resolved  to  build  a  residence  in  some  con- 
venient spot  apart  from  all  the  villages,  but  easily  reached  from 
all.  This  would  be  the  general  resort  of  the  missionaries  when 
the  village  was  almost  deserted  by  the  absence  of  war,  Iiunt- 
iog,  or  fishing  parties,  or  when  popular  fury  made  it  prudent  to 
retire  for  a  time.  In  case  of  need,  a  missionary  could  be  sent  to 
any  spot,  and  in  the  interval  flying  visits  could  be  made. 

Selecting  a  spot  on  the  little  river  Wye,  between  two  small 
lakes,  they  erected  the  mission-house  of  St.  Mary's ;  and  in  the 
fall  of  1639  (after  the  pereecution  raised  by  the  small-pox),  the 


*  The  towns  called  by  the  missionariea  St,  Gabriel,  St.  Louis,  and  St. 
Ignatius  were  not  Catholic  towns  or  missionary  settlements  any  more  than 
New  York,  Boston,  or  Philadelphia  are  now. 


•.  i: 


1«2 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


ji 


iiiissioiiaiioH  of  tlio  Immaculate  Conception,  driven  from  Ossossanc, 
retired  to  it,  followed  in  tiie  spring  by  tiioso  of  St.  Josepirs,  at 
Teananstayae.  They  liad  faced  every  danger,  and  stood  by  their 
altar  to  the  last,  afflicted  in  heart  to  see  some  of  their  little  band 
of  conv(?rts  yield  to  the  storm  of  popular  fuiy. 

lint  from  St.  Mary's  the  missionaries  now  spread  to  new  fields. 
Fathers  Daniel  and  Le  Moynt;  founded  the  mission  of  St.  John 
among  the  Ahrenda  tribe,  the  earliest  friends  of  tho  French, 
]>rotected  and  aided  by  its  chieftain.  At ironta;  and  Garnior  and 
Jogues  again  visited  tho  obstinate  Tionontates.  In  the  various 
missions,  one  thousand  were  baptized,  almost  all  in  danger  of 
death,  one  fourth  being  infants.* 

In  the  summer  of  1040  two  missionaries  ari'ived  to  labor  among 
the  neighboring  Algic  tribes.  These  were  Charles  Raymbaut, 
doomed  to  die  the  earliest,  and  Claude  Pijart.  Jerome  Lalemant 
now  became  Superior ;  and  the  veteran  Brebeuf,  gladly  resigning 
H  charge  he  had  never  sought,  hastened  with  Chaumonot  to  the 
Neutral  Nation,  to  begin  anew  the  mission  which  his  old  comrade, 
tiie  Recollect  Dallion,  had  attempted  yeai*s  before.  Tho  other 
missions  were  divided ;  and  in  November  the  Fathers,  in  paii-s,  set 
out  for  their  allotted  posts.  Jogues  and  Chastelain  remained  at 
St.  Mary's,  and  visited  five  towns  near  it.  The  mission  of  the 
Conception,  with  its  dependencies,  the  treasure  of  these  apostolic 
men,  was  bedewed  with  the  sweat  of  Lalemant  and  Lemercier. 
St.  Joseph's  and  St.  John's,  two  widely  separated  villages,  were 
joyfully  taken  by  Daniel  and  the  courageous  Le  Moyne.  Gamier 
returned  with  Peter  Pijart  to  his  Tionontates,  who  had  expelled 
him  the  year  before. 

Since  we  are  here  giving  only  a  general  view  of  the  Huron  mis- 
sion in  Canada,  as  it  preluded  subsequent  missions  within  our  ter- 
ritory, we  must  huiTy  on.     Fain  would  we  pause  to  follow  each  in 


*  Rel.  1639-40 ;  Garnier's  Letters. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


1«3 


liis  labors,  his  trials,  and  his  toils;  recount  their  dangers  from  tliu 
lu'atlu'n  Huron,  the  skulking  lro(jUois  brave,  the  frozen  river, 
liunj^er,  coKI,  an  J  acci<lent;  to  show  (Jarnier  wrestling  with  tho 
floating  ice,  through  which  h«^  sunk,  on  an  errand  of  mercy ;  Clia- 
baiK'l  struggling  on  for  years  on  a  missicjii  from  which  every  fibre 
of  his  nature  nhrunk  with  loathing;  Chaumonot  com|>iling  his 
granmiar  on  the  frozen  earth  ;  or  tlu5  iieroic  lirebeuf,  paralyzed  by 
a  fall,  with  his  collar-bone  broken,  cree[)ing  on  his  hands  and  feet 
along  tho  frozen  road,  and  sleeping  unsheltered  on  the  snow,  when 
the  very  trees  were  s})litting  with  cold.* 

The  faith  now  advanced.  Chihatenhwa,  slain  by  the  Iro- 
(juois,  was  rej)laceil  by  his  brother  Teondeclioren,  who  had  for 
twenty  yeai's  been  a  medicine-man.  Sondatsaa,  Atironta,  Atonso, 
and  Aha.sastari,  famous  chiefs,  were  the  catechumens,  and  tho 
greatest  sachems  now  listened  to  the  words  of  the  mission- 
aries; yet  still,  in  a  nation  of  10,000,  not  one  lumdred  were 
Christians,  and  but  a  hundred  baptisms  rewarde<l  their  labors.f 
Tho  following  year  was  more  consoling.  Although  the  war 
with  the  Iroquois  liad  assumed  a  dangerous  form,  the  mis- 
sions were  pushed  with  renewed  vigor,  except  that  among  tho 
Neutrals,  for  Brebeuf  had  gone  to  Quebec.  Tlie  C'iiristians  and 
catechumens  now  became  so  numerous,  that  in  many  villages 
they  formed  a  considerable  party,  and  by  refusing  all  participation 
in  feasts  or  ceremonies  savoring  of  idolatry,  drew  on  themselves 
petty  pereecution  and  bitter  hatred.  Hearing  tho  name  of  Maiy 
repeated  frequently^  the  pagans  called  the  Christians  Marians,  a 
name  which  they  joyfully  received.  In  many  families  the  Catho- 
lic Indian  was  constantly  pei-secuted  ;  and  the  annals  of  the  mis- 
sion give  most  edifying  accounts  of  tho  pei'severance  even  of 
children. 


*  Garnier's  Letters;  Memoirea  sur  la  vie  et  les  vertus  des  Peres  istuic 
Jogues,  &c. ;  Chatimonot's  Autobiography. 
+  Rel.  1640-1. 


184 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


The  AlguiKjuiii  mission  also  took  a  new  impulse.  After  u  twist 
of  the  tlejid,  whicli  had  gathered  deputies  from  eveiy  Algic  clan 
around  the  upper  lakes,  Kaynibaut  and  Jogues,  as  wo  shall  else- 
where see,  crossed  Lake  Huron,  and  announced  the  gospel  to  the 
assembled  Chippewas  at  the  rai)ids  of  St.  Mary,  planting  the  cross 
within  the  limits  of  Michigan,  as  it  has  been  justly  said,  years 
before  Elliot  had  preached  to  the  Algonquins,  within  ten  miles  of 
Boston.* 

Revei'ses  were  now  beginning  to  overshadow  the  future  of 
the  Huron  mission.  Father  Jogues,  sent  down  to  Quebec  in 
the  summer  for  supplies,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Mohawks 
as  he  returned.  The  flotilla  containing  the  bravest  Chiistians 
wjis  taken,  and  all  met  sufterings  or  death  on  their  way  to 
the  Mohawk.f  Kaymbaut  soon  after  died.  The  Iroquois  were 
ravaging  the  Huron  country;  but  the  Superior,  undaunted  by 
all,  wrote — "Never  have  we  had  more  courage  for  spiritual  or 
temporal."  Every  war  or  trading  party  now  had  its  Christians, 
who,  by  their  fidelity  in  prayer,  showed  the  sincerity  of  their 
belief.  IMany  who  had  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  poor  missionary 
in  Iluronia,  yielded  at  last,  when  he  saw  the  honor  paid  to  reli- 
gion at  Quebec,  and  felt  the  greatness  of  the  sacrifices  made  by 
those  apostolic  men. 

These,  on  their  return,  became  apostles,  and  many,  like  Totiri, 
went  to  obstinate  towns  to  announce  the  faith,  and  warn  them  of 
the  vengeance  of  Heaven.  The  Christian  element  was  now  work- 
ing steadily  on.  Councils  were  held  to  determine  the  best  means 
of  extending  the  faith ;  and  though  the  evils  of  war  seemed  to  fall 
especially  on  the  Christians,  none  wavered. 

By  1644,  the  face  of  the  country  was  so  changed,  that  the  mis- 
sionaries, though  in  great  want,  yet  relying  on  the  protection  of 
God,  resolved  on  the  return  of  Brebeuf,  with  Fathers  Garreau  and 


i- 

f1 


'4 


!   11 


Rel.  Huron,  1641-2 ;  Bancroft. 


t  Rel.  1642,  oh.  xi. 


FllENCH   MISSIONS. 


185 


Chabanel,  again  to  alter  the  mission  plan,  and  became  |)crmanent 
residents  at  the  various  stations  of  the  C'onception,  St.  Joseph's 
and  St.  Michael's,  returning  to  St.  Mary's  only  tor  their  annual  re- 
treat, or  to  attend  consultations.*  In  the  following  year  there 
wen;  two  other  little  churches,  St.  Ignatius  and  St.  John  the  Bajv 
tist,  with  the  Algic  church  of  the  Holy  Ghost.f 

The  year  1645  brought  a  pe.ice,  which,  for  the  fii*st  time*  in 
many  years,  left  the  St.  Lawrence  free  ;  and  Father  Bressani,  who 
liad  been  captured  the  preceding  year,  now  reached  the  Huron 
country  with  the  necessaries  of  which  the  missioiuu'ies  liad  long 
Inen  deprived.  Relieved  of  the  long  and  cruel  war,  Iluronia 
seemed  to  acquire  new  vigor,  and  the  Jesuits  began  to  feel  hopes 
of  extending  their  spiritual  conquests ;  but  the  peace  so  lately  con- 
cluded was  soon  broken  by  the  Mohawks,  who  massacred  their 
missionary,  Isaac  Jogues.  War  was  rekindled.  The  Iroquois 
bui-st  on  the  Huron  country,  and  all  was  soon  dismay  and  ruin. 
This  hour  of  misfortune  was  the  acceptable  time  of  salvation.  As 
famine,  disaster,  and  destruction  closed  around  them,  the  Hurons 
gathered  beneath  the  cross,  their  only  hope.  Eveiy  alarm  pro- 
duced sincere  conversions,  stimulated  the  slow  or  tepid,  and  sent 
conviction  into  the  hearts  of  unbelievers.  In  no  town  was  there  a 
chapel  large  enough  for  the  congregation.  In  summer  and  winter, 
proof  to  the  severity  of  the  weather,  the  kneeling  crowd  without 
joined,  each  in  his  own  heart,  in  the  sacrifice  oflered  withiu.J 

In  July,  1648,  early  in  the  morning,  when  the  braves  were 
absent  on  war  or  hunting  parties,  when  none  but  old  men,  women, 
and  children  tenanted  the  once  strong  town  of  Teananstayae,  when 
Father  Anthony  Daniel,  beloved  of  all,  fresh  from  liis  retreat  at 
St.  Mary's,  and  full  of  desire  for  the  gloiy  of  Heaven,  was  urging 
his  flock  to  prepare  for  it  in  joy,  a  ciy  «irose,  "  To  arms !  to  arms !" 

*  Kcl.  Huron,  1642-4.    There  is  none  of  1643;  it  was  taken  by  tlio  Mo- 

luiwks. 

t  Kcl.  1644-5,  and  1645-6.  X  K©1. 1647-8. 


186 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


which  echoing  through  tlie  crowded  cliapel,  filled  all  with  terror. 
Mass  had  just  ended,  and  Daniel  hastens  to  the  palisade,  where  the 
few  defenders  rallied.  There  he  rouses  their  drooping  courage,  for 
a  formidable  Iroquois  force  was  upon  thera.  Heaven  opens  to  the 
faitliful  Christian  who  dies  fighting  for  his  home ;  but  to  the  un- 
believer, vain  his  struggle :  temporal  pain  will  be  succeeded  by 
endless  torment.  Few  and  quick  his  words.  Confessing  here, 
baptizing  there,  he  hurries  along  the  line.  Then  speeds  him  to 
the  cabins.  Crowds  gather  round  to  implore  the  baptism  they 
had  long  refused.  Unable  to  give  time  to  each,  he  baptizes  by 
aspersion,  and  again  hurries  into  cabin  after  cabin  to  shrive  the 
sick  and  aged.  At  last  he  is  at  the  chapel  again.  'Tis  full  to 
the  door.  All  had  gathered  round  the  altar  for  protection  and 
defence,  losing  the  pi-ecious  moments.  "  Fly,  brethren,  fly  !"  ex- 
claimed the  devoted  missionary.  "Be  steadfast  till  your  latest 
breath  in  the  faith.  Here  will  I  die ;  here  must  I  stay  while  I 
see  one  soul  to  gain  to  heaven ;  and,  dying  to  serve  you,  my  life 
is  nothing."  Pronouncing  a  general  absolution,  he  urged  their 
flight  from  the  rear  of  the  chapel ;  and  advancing  to  the  main 
door  issued  forth  and  closed  it  behind  him.  The  Iroquois  were 
air  ady  at  hand ;  but  at  the  sight  of  that  man  thus  fearlessly  ad- 
vancing, they  recoiled,  as  though  some  deity  had  buret  upon  them. 
But  the  next  moment  a  shower  of  arrows  riddled  his  body. 
Gashed,  and  rent,  and  torn,  his  apostolic  spirit  never  left  him. 
Daniel  stands  undismayed,  till  pierced  by  a  musket-ball,  lie 
uttered  aloud  the  name  of  Jesus,  and  fell  dead,  as  he  had  often 
wished,  by  that  shrine  he  had  reared  in  the  wilderness.  His 
church,  soon  in  flames,  became  his  pyre,  and  flung  in  there,  his 
body  was  entirely  consumed. 

Thus,  in  the  midst  of  his  laboi*s,  perished  Anthony  Daniel, 
priest  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  unwearied  in  labor,  unbroken  in 
toil,  patient  beyond  belief,  gentle  amid  every  opposition,  charitable 
with  the  charity  of  Christ,  supporting  and  embracing  all.    Around 


<t- 


n 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


187 


him  fell  hundreds  of  his  Christians ;  and  thus  sank  in  blood  the 
mission  of  St.  Joseph,  at  the  town  of  Toananstayae.* 

The  news  of  this  disaster  si)read  terror  through  the  land. 
Town  after  town  was  abandoned.  The  Ilurons  fled  to  the 
islands  of  the  lake,  or  the  cabins  of  the  Tionontates;  and  the 
missionaiies  endeavored  in  vain  to  excite  them  to  a  systematic 
plaa  of  defence.  During  the  winter  the  Iroquois  roamed  through 
the  country  undisturbed,  and  there  seemed  no  hope  of  ultiuuite 
victory  over  them.  The  Huron  nation,  after  having  had  its  day 
of  glory  and  renown,  was  destined  to  melt  away  before  the  con- 
quering Iroquois,  when  sickness  had  enfeebled  its  towns.  Though 
it  was  proud  and  stubborn  at  fii'st,  Providence  awaited  the 
moment  of  its  convereion  before  the  final  blow  was  struck.  "  The 
faith  had  now  made  the  conquest  of  almost  the  whole  country," 
says  Bressani,  an  eye-witness  of  the  scenes  we  relate ;  "  it  was 
everywhere  publicly  professed ;  and  not  merely  the  common 
people,  but  even  the  chiefs  were  alike  its  children  and  its  pro- 
tectors. The  superstitious  rites  that  at  first  were  more  frequent 
than  t)ie  day,  began  to  lose  credit  to  such  a  degree,  that  a  heathen 
at  Ossossane,  man  of  rank  though  he  w;u<,  could  find  none  to  per- 
form them  in  his  illnes'^.  The  persecutions  raised  against  us  had 
now  cejised ;  the  curses  heaped  on  the  faith  were  changed  into 
blessings.  We  might  say  that  they  were  now  ripe  for  heaven ; 
that  naught  was  wanting  but  the  reaping-hook  of  death  to  lay  the 
han'est  up  in  the  safe  garner-house  of  I*aradise.  This  was  our 
sole  consolation  amid  the  general  desolation  of  the  country." 

"  ^]  isfortune  and  affliction  had  begun  with  the  faith ;  they  grew 

*  Father  Anthony  Daniel,  called  by  the  Indians  Antwen  (i.  e.  Antoine), 
wa3  born  at  Dieppe,  in  Normandy,  in  1601,  and  entered  the  Society  of  Jesus 
ia  his  twenty-first  year.  Sent  to  Canada  in  16:33,  ho  was  at  first  stationed  at 
Cape  Breton;  but  from  July,  1634,  to  his  death,  on  the  4tli  of  July,  lfJ4s, 
was  connected  with  the  Huron  mission.  In  life,  he  bad  ever  been  distin- 
guished for  meekness,  humility,  obedience,  and  piety.  For  a  sketch  of  his 
'ife,  see  Alegambc,  642  ;  Tanner,  German  edition,  673;  Bresaaiu,  247. 


% 


188 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


■if 


^ 

1 . 

■     1 

i 

witli  its  growth ;  and  wlicn  religion  seemed  .it  last  the  peaceful 
mistress  of  the  land,  '  the  waters  of  tribulation  entered  in'  so  furi- 
ously, that  the  stricken  church  may  well  exclaim,  '  A  tempest  has 
overwhelmed  me.' " 

Such  was  the  strange  picture  of  this  devoted  land.  Its  cup  was 
not  yet  full.  On  the  16th  of  March,  1649,  at  daybreak,  an  arinv 
of  a  thousand  Iroquois  burst  on  the  town  of  St.  Ignatius,  and  all 
were  soon  involved  in  massacre.  Three  only  found  means  tc> 
escape,  and,  halt-naked,  reach  the  neighboring  town  of  St.  Louis. 
Sending  oft'  the  women  and  children,  the  braves  prepared  to 
detend  the  place.  Two  missionaries  were  actually  in  the  vil- 
lage— the  veteran  Ih'ebeuf  and  (Jabnel  Lalemant.  These  the 
Christians  urged  to  flee,  as  it  was  not  their  calling  to  wield  sword 
or  musket ;  but  Father  Brebeuf  told  them  that  in  such  a  crisis 
there  was  something  more  necessary  than  fire  or  steel ;  it  was  to 
have  recourse  to  God  and  to  the  sacraments,  Avhich  they  alone 
could  administer.  Lalemant,  no  less  resolute,  implored  of  Brebeuf 
permission  to  remain  with  him,  and  obtained  it.  Like  Daniel, 
they  too  hurried  from  cabin  to  cabin  to  prepare  the  sick  and  in- 
firm for  death,  and  then  at  the  palisades  roused  the  courage  of 
the  small  band  who  awaited  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  The 
Iroquois  came  madly  on,  but  a  well-directed  Huron  fire  drove 
them  back  with  loss.  Yet  their  force  was  too  overwhelming,  hi 
spite  of  losses  they  pressed  up  to  the  palisade,  and  soon  effecting  a 
breach,  drove  back  the  few  Huron  braves,  and  as  they  advanced, 
fired  the  town.  The  two  missionaries,  who  remained  to  soothe 
the  wounded  and  dying,  were  soon  in  the  hands  of  the  Iroquois, 
who,  collecting  their  captives,  began  their  torture  by  tearing  out 
their  nails,  then  led  them  in  haste  to  St.  Ignatius,  where  the  other 
prisoners  and  booty  had  been  left.  The  missionaries  and  their 
companions  were  dragged  along  with  every  ignominy,  and  entered 
the  town  only  by  the  fearful  gauntlet — blows  raining  on  them 
from  the  double  row  of  furious  savages  who  came  out  to  meet 


i 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


189 


tlieni.  A  scaft'old  had  been  raisod,  according  to  cu.sto?M,  of  polos 
lushed  together,  and  covered  with  bark.  Here  they  were  expensed, 
lirebeiif  seeing  Christian  captives  near  him,  excited  their  courage 
by  reminding  them  of  the  glory  <.>f  lieaven  now  opening  before 
them.  There  were  among  the  Lwjuois  some  llurons  now  natural- 
ized, and  of  old  enemies  of  the  missionaries.  At  these  words  of 
Brebeuf,  they  began  the  torture.  Eacli  wjis  soon  bound  to  a 
stake.  The  liands  of  lirebeuf  were  cut  ofi';  while  Lalemant's  llesli 
quivered  with  tlie  awls  and  pointed  irons  thrust  into  every  part  of 
his  body.  This  did  not  sufHce  :  a  tire  kindled  near  soon  reddened 
their  hatchets,  and  these  they  forced  under  the  armpits  and  between 
the  thighs  of  the  suilerers ;  while  to  Brebeuf  they  gave  a  collar  of 
those  burning  weapons;  and  there  the  missionaries  stootl  with 
those  glowing  irons  seething  and  consuming  to  their  very  vitals. 
Amid  the  din  rose  tlie  voice  of  the  old  Huron  missionary,  consol- 
ing his  converts,  denouncing  God's  judgments  on  the  unbeliever, 
till  his  executioners  crushed  his  mouth  with  a  stone,  cut  oft'  liis 
nose  and  lips,  and  thrust  a  brand  into  liis  mouth,  so  that  his 
throat  and  tongue,  burnt  and  swollen,  refused  their  office. 

They  had  left  Lalemant,  and  now  stopped  to  devise  some  new 
plan  of  torture.  Enemies  of  the  faith,  they  had  seen  Brebeuf  in 
the  veiy  breach  bapti-^ing  his  neophytes ;  often,  too,  in  their  vil- 
lages, had  the  apostate  llurons  seen  him  pour  the  vivifying  watei's 
on  the  head  of  the  dying.  An  infernal  thought  seizes  them.  They 
resolve  to  baptize  him.  While  the  rest  danced  like  fiends  around 
him,  slicing  oft'  his  flesh  to  devour  before  his  eyes,  or  cauterizing 
the  wounds  with  stones  or  hatchets,  these  placed  a  cauldron  on  the 
fire.  "  Echon,"  cried  the  mockers,  for  such  was  his  Iluron  name, 
"  Echon,  thou  hast  told  us  that  the  more  we  sufter  here,  the  greater 
will  be  our  crown  in  heaven ;  thank  us,  then,  for  we  are  laying  up 
for  thee  a  priceless  one  in  heaveii."  When  the  water  was  heated, 
they  tore  oft"  his  scalp,  and  thrice,  in  derision  of  baptism,  poured 
the  water  over  his  head,  amid  the  loud  shout  of  the  unbelievers. 


100 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


I    ■ 


V 


11 

If 


11-' 


The  eye  of  the  inurtyr  was  now  dim,  and  tlie  torturers  unable,  from 
lii'st  to  last,  to  wrini^  from  his  lips  one  sijjfh  of  pain,  were  ea<^er  to 
close  the  scene.  Hacking  ott'  his  feet,  they  clovo  open  his  chest, 
took  out  his  noble  heart  and  devoured  it.* 

Thus,  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  after  three  lioura  of 
frightful  torture,  expired  Father  John  de  lirebeuf,  the  real  found- 
er of  the  mission,  a  man  such  as  the  Catholic  Church  alone 
could  produce; — as  a  missionaiy  unequalled  for  his  zeal,  ability, 
untiring  exertion,  and  steady  perseverance;  as  a  servant  of  God,  one 
whose  virtues  the  Rota  wouM  pronounce  heroic,  patient  in  toil, 
hardship,  sullering,  and  privation  ;  a  man  of  prayer,  of  deep  and 
tender  piety,  of  inflamed  love  for  God,  in  whom  and  for  whom  he 
did  and  sutiered  all ;  as  a  martyr,  one  of  the  most  gloiious  in  our 
annals  for  the  variety  and  atrocity  of  his  torments. 

Gabriel  Lalemant  had  cast  himself  at  the  feet  of  Brebeuf  to  kiss 
his  glonous  wounds ;  but  he  had  been  torn  away,  and  after  beinio; 

*  Father  John  ile  Brcbciif,  whose  Huron  name  was  FcJion,  was  born  at 
Buycux,  in  Normandy,  on  the  2oth  of  March,  1593,  of  a  noble  funiily,  tlie 
source  of  the  ancient  house  of  Arundel.  By  far  the  most  eminent  of  the  early 
niissionarics  of  Canada,  his  life  is  the  history  and  the  glory  of  the  Huron 
mission.  He  entered  the  Society  of  Jesus  at  Kouen  on  the  5th  of  October, 
1617,  and  was  ordained  Ave  years  after.  From  the  outset  of  his  religious  life 
he  was  eminent  for  his  mortification,  austerities,  zeal,  and  dovotedness.  He 
first  arrived  in  Canada  on  the  19th  of  June,  1625,  and  was  employed  amon? 
the  Hurons  from  1626  to  1629,  from  1634  to  1641,  and  from  1641  to  his  death 
on  the  Ifith  of  March,  1649.  He  was  interred  at  the  cemetery  of  St.  Mary's, 
but  his  head  was  carried  to  Quebec  and  inclosed  in  a  silver  bust  sent  from 
France  by  his  family.  The  bust,  of  which  an  exact  copy  is  given  in  this 
work,  is  still  at  the  Hotel  Dieu,  Quebec.  The  intercession  of  Father  Brebeuf 
was  constantly  invoked,  and  many  miracles  are  ascribed  to  him.  He  was  tlic 
first  Huron  scholar,  and  wrote  a  catechism  in  the  language  of  the  tribe,  pub- 
lislied  in  1632,  and  a  grammar  never  published.  As  Superior  of  the  Ilurou 
mission  he  is  the  author  of  two  Bclations,  one  of  which  contains  a  treatise 
on  the  Huron  language,  republished  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Americim 
Antiquarian  Society,  and  another  Treatise  on  the  Manners  and  Customs  of  the 
Tribe.  For  a  sketch  of  his  life,  see  Alegambo ;  Tanner,  533 ;  Brossani,  251 ; 
Mpmoires  touchant  les  Vertus,  <fec.  MS.  1652;  O'Callaghan,  ffesuit  Rela- 
tions ;  Drew's  Fasti,  i.  312-17. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


191 


wrapped  in  i>ieces  of  l);uk,  K'ft  tor  a  time.  Wlien  his  superior  luul 
expired,  they  applied  tire  to  this  coverinjor;  as  the  tlame  curled 
around  him,  Father  Lalemant,  whose  delicjite  frame,  unused  to  toil, 
could  not  resist  tlie  pain,  raised  liis  hands  on  liigli  and  invoked  tho 
aid  of  heaven.  Gratitied  by  this  exj)ression  of  i)ain,  his  tormentors 
resolved  to  prolong  his  agony ;  and  through  the  long  night  added 
torture  to  torture  to  see  the  writhing  frame,  the  quivering  tlesh  of 
the  young  priest.  He,  too,  underwent  the  cniel  inockery  of  bap- 
tism. "  Wo  baptize  thee,"  said  the  wretches,  "  that  thou  mayest  bo 
blessed  in  heaven,  for  without  a  good  baptism  one  cannot  bo 
sa\'ed."  lie,  too,  saw  his  tlesh  devoured  before  his  eyes,  or  slashed 
oft'  in  wanton  cruelty,  for  it  displeased  their  taste ;  every  inch  of 
his  body,  from  head  to  foot,  wjis  charred  and  burnt ;  his  very  eyes 
were  put  out  by  the  hot  coals  forced  into  them.  At  last  when  the 
sun  had  risen  on  the  I7th  of  March,  1649,  they  closed  his  long 
martpdom  by  tomahawking  him,  and  left  his  body  a  black  man- 
gled mass.* 

They  had  attempted  to  attack  St.  Mai'y's,  where  a  small  village 
had  now  gathered ;  but  after  receiving  a  check  from  a  Huron 
party  gave  up  the  design,  and  at  last,  fearful  of  surprise,  retired 
with  precipitation. 

This  was  the  death-blow  of  the  Huron  nation ;  fifteen  towns  were 
now  abandoned,  and  the  people  tied  in  every  direction.     The  tribe 


i  i; 


[    i 


*  Rel.  1648-9 ;  Brcssani,  Relation  abregee ;   Mcmoires  sur  lea  Vertus, 
&c.  MS. 

Father  Gabriel  Lalemant,  a  nephew  of  Father  Charles  and  Father  Je- 
rome Lalemant,  both  distinguished  in  the  annald  of  the  Canada  mission,  was 
born  on  the  31st  of  October,  1610,  at  Paris,  where  his  grandfather  held  the 
post  of  Lieutenant  Criminel.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  entered  the  Society  of 
Jesus,  and,  after  teaching  several  years,  followed  his  uncles  and  several  of  his 
Rclioolfellows  to  Canada,  lie  arrived  at  Quebec  on  the  20th  of  September, 
1C46,  but  was  on  the  Huron  mission  only  from  the  6th  of  August,  1648,  to  tho 
time  of  his  death.  A  gentle,  innocent  life,  made  him  seem  ever  younger, 
but  not  more  innocent  than  he  actually  was.  For  his  Life,  see  same  authori- 
ties as  for  Father  Brebeuf. 


192 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


■! 

• 

1 

■• 

: 

1 

■  1 

i 

;i' 

J                  ' 

'                                                  i 

1                      1    ■ 

fM  : 

j^^| 

..■■1 

IL 

■^1          .; 

of  Scaiionaonrat  or  St.  Micliael's,  witli  tlie  survivors  of  that  calleil 
by  the  missionaries  St.  John  tho  baptist,  made  overtures  to  the 
conquering  Iioquois,  and  emigrated  in  a  body  to  the  Seneca  coun- 
try, wliere  we  sliall  afterwards  find  tliem.  (Others  fled  to  the  kin- 
dred Tionontates,  Attiwan<hiionk,  Enes,  and  Conestogues;  otheis 
sought  a  refuge  on  tlie  islands  and  shores  of  Lake  Huron. 

In  this  disorder  tlic  missions  were  all  broken  up.  The  Fathers, 
assembling  at  St.  Mary's,  resolved  to  follow  the  fugitives  who  re- 
mained in  the  country,  and  share  their  fate.  Tho  small  body  thus 
left  in  the  Huron  country  clung  to  the  missionaries  as  their  only 
liope :  the  infidels  promising  conversion,  the  Chiistians  fidelity 
till  death.  vSome  of  the  missionaries  struck  a  hundred  miles  into 
the  forests  to  console  those  who  had  fled  amid  their  trials ;  others 
joined  Gamier  on  his  Petun  or  Tionontate  mission,  now  the  most 
important  of  all ;  the  rest,  with  the  Superior  and  the  French  in  tho 
country,  endeavored  to  assemble  as  many  as  possible,  and  form  a 
settlement  on  an  island  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  St.  Josopli. 

Before  removing  to  it,  however,  they,  with  streaming  eyes,  set 
fire  to  their  house  and  chapel  of  St.  Mary's  to  prevent  its  profana- 
tion, and  beheld  the  flames  in  one  liour  consume  the  work  of  nino- 
teen  years.  The  new  settlement  was  unfortunate ;  unable  to  raise 
crops  for  the  multitude  gathered  there,  cooped  up  by  war-parties  of 
the  enemy,  the  devoted  Ilurons  soon  fell  victims  to  famine  and  disease. 

Father  Garnier  and  his  companions  labored  zealously  among  the 
Tionontates,  but  calumny  and  persecution  arose,  and  in  one  place 
their  death  was  resolved  upon ;  confident,  nevertheless,  in  the  pro- 
tection of  lieaven,  they  fearlessly  continued  their  labors  during  the 
summer.  Late  in  the  fall  the  Superior  at  St.  Joseph's  Island  heard 
that  a  large  Iroquois  force  was  in  the  field,  intended  to  operate 
either  against  the  new  settlement  or  the  Tionontates.  Not  to  expose 
too  manv,  he  recalled  Father  Natalis  Chabanel  from  Etharita  or 
St.  John's,  and  suggested  to  Father  Charles  Gamier,  the  other  mis- 
sionary there,  the  propriety  of  retiring  for  a  time.     Father  Cha- 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


193 


h.'inel  left  on  the  5th  of  Dc(;cmber,  and  on  tlie  same  day  the  braves 
of  Etharita,  tired  of  waiting  for  tlie  oneniy,  set  out  to  meet  them, 
hut  unfortunately  took  a  wrong  direction  :  the  Iroquois  army  passed 
them  unseen,  and  hite  in  the  afternoon  bui-st  on  the  defencek'ss 
town.  Feaiful  of  being  surprised  in  their  work  by  the  returning 
I'etuns,  they  cut  down  all  without  mercy,  and  fired  the  j)lace. 
(larnier  was  everywhere  exhorting,  consoling,  shriving,  baptizing: 
wherever  a  wounded  Indian  lay,  he  mshed  to  g;ither  his  dying 
words ;  wherever  a  sick  pereon  or  child  met  his  eye,  he  luustened 
to  confer  baptism.  While  thus,  regardless  of  danger,  he  listened 
only  to  the  call  of  duty,  he  fell  mortally  wounded  by  two  musket- 
balls  ;  and  the  Iroquois,  stripping  him  of  his  habit,  hurried  on. 
Stunned  by  the  pain,  he  lay  a  moment  there,  then  clasping  his 
hands  in  prayer,  prepared  to  die  ;  but  as  he  writhed  in  the  agony 
of  death  he  beheld  a  wounded  Tionontate  some  paces  from  him. 
Tluit  sight  revived  liim ;  forgetful  of  his  own  state,  he  remembered 
only  that  he  was  a  priest,  and  rallying  all  his  strength  by  two 
eti'orts,  lises  to  his  feet  and  endeavors  to  walk,  but  after  a  few  stag- 
gering steps  falls  heavily  to  the  ground.  Still,  mindful  only  of  duty, 
he  dragged  himself  to  the  wounded  man,  and,  while  giving  him  the 
last  absolution,  fell  over  him  a  corpse :  another  Iroquois  had  driven 
a  tomahawk  into  his  skull.* 

Fathers  Garreau  and  Grelon  liastened  from  the  other  town  and 
buried,  amid  the  ruins  of  their  church,  the  body  of  the  holy  mis- 
sionary, the  beloved  Oracha  of  the  natives,  who,  won  by  his  mild 
and  gentle  mannere,  entire  devotion  to  them  and  their  good,  his 
forgetfulness  of  all  that  was  not  connected  with  their  salvation,  no 
less  than  his  perfect  knowledge  of  their  language  and  manners,  had 
long  considered  him  less  a  Frenchman  than  an  Indian,  or  a  being 
of  another  world  sent  to  assume  the  form.f 


1   I 


i   I 


\  i 


::  I 


i 


*  Memoires,  &c.  247 ;  Bressani,  Relation  abr^gee,  263. 
t  Father  Charles  Garnier  was  born  at  Paris,  in  1605,  of  an  eminent  and 
pious  familjr.    After  a  youth  of  remarkable  holiness  ho  entered  the  Society 

9 


1D4 


AMKlUl'AN    ("ATlIoriK'    MlSSfOXS. 


:      • 
( 

, 

i 

Ilis  rornpanioii,  Father  CliaUaiirl,  <li(l  not  escajx'.  IIo  had  not 
travelled  far  ^vhen  the  cries  from  St.  John's  alarmed  his  party  in 
the  wocxls :  tliey  dispersed,  and  Chabanel,  Avhiie  endoavorin«jf  to 
make  his  way  alone  to  St.  Mary's,  was  killed  by  an  apostate  Hu- 
ron on  the  banks  of  a  river,  and  i\\mg  into  the  stream,  thus  endiuir 
a  missionary  earecn*  in  which  he  had  persevered  ac^aiiist  the  utmost 
K'piiu^nance,  and  the  total  want  of  all  consolation.* 

After  this  disaster,  the  Tionontates  abandoned  their  other  town 
and  fled  with  the  Ilnrons,  with  whom  tliey  were  now  confoundetl. 

As  the  misery  on  St.  .Joseph's  Isle  increased,  the  chiefs  resolved 
to  emif^rate  to  the  lower  St.  Lawrence,  and  settle  under  the  walls 
of  (Quebec.  To  this  the  missionaries  at  last  consented,  loth  as  th<  y 
were  to  leave  a  land  so  endeared  to  them  by  the  labor  of  years, 
bedewed  by  the  sweat  and  blood  of  their  martyred  brethren.     The 


of  Jesus  on  the  Gth  of  Sepiomber,  1624,  being  the  third  brother  who  em- 
braced tlic  religious  state.  Sent  to  Canada  in  1636,  ho  was  constantly  on  tiie 
Jfuron  niissions  from  the  11th  of  Stptenibcr  in  tha':  year  till  his  death  on  the 
7th  of  December,  1G40.  lie  seemed  to  Iiave  been  born  and  to  live  only  for  tlio 
conversion  of  his  Indians :  of  nothing  else  did  he  think  or  converse.  Ej^- 
tccmcd  by  his  companions  as  a  saint,  his  letters,  still  extant,  bear  testimony 
to  his  eminent  love  of  God  and  zeal  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  as  well  as  liis 
entire  disengagement  from  earthly  things.  As  a  Huron  scholar  lie  was,  next 
to  Brebeuf,  the  best  in  the  whole  body  of  missionaries.  See  Alegarabe,  He- 
roes, 659  ;  Tanner,  539;  Drew's  Fasti,  iv.  295;  Creuxins,  Hist.  Canada,  T)!]."); 
Eulogium,  r.  C.  Garnier,  MS.  1649;  Chaumonot,  Autobiography,  MS. 

*  Kel.  1649-50 ;  Memoires,  &c.  273 ;  Tanner,  Soeietas  Jesu  Militans  (Ger- 
man ed,),  687.  Father  Natalis  Chabanel  was  born  in  the  south  of  France  in 
1613,  and  entered  the  Society  of  Jesus  at  the  age  of  17.  lie  was  professoi'of 
rhetoric  in  several  colleges  of  the  order  in  the  province  of  Toulouse,  and  was 
liighly  esteemed  for  his  skill  and  learning.  Burning,  however,  with  the  desire 
pf  evangelizing  the  heathen,  ho  Avas  sent  to  Canada  in  1643.  After  studyin;; 
the  Algonquin  language  for  a  time  he  was  sent  to  the  llurons,  and  continued 
among  them  till  his  death.  His  virtue  may  be  known  from  the  fact  tluit, 
though  he  had  an  insuperable  repugnance  to  the  Indians  and  their  mode  of 
life,  he  bound  himself  by  vow  not  to  leave  the  mission,  and  this  without  any 
interior  consolation  to  sustain  him.  A  doubt  hung  over  his  death  ;  but  his 
murderer,  Louis  llonareenhax,  finally  avowed  that  ho  had  killed  the  mis- 
sionary, because  every  misfortune  liad  befallen  him  since  he  had  embraced 
Christianity. — M6moirea  pour  sejvir,  jfec. 


imi 


•it. 


KHKNCII    MISSIONS. 


lo; 


;> 


[o  had  lift 
is  party  in 
rivoiinjJC  to 
ostato  llu- 
hiis  cndinir 
the  utnio>t 

other  town 
•onfoundo*!. 
ofe  rosolvc'l 
er  the  ^valls 
loth  as  tli«  y 
or  of  years, 
thren.    Tho 

»thcr  who  0111- 
istuntly  on  t'ne 
s  death  on  the 
ve  only  fort  ho 
:onvcr?c.    !>- 
iciir  tcHtimony 
art  well  as  liis 
lie  was,  next 
.legambc,  He- 
Canada,  r)i35 ; 
|,y,  MS. 
ililitans  (Gcr- 
of  France  in 
19  professor  of 
louse,  and  was 
ith  the  desire 
.ftcr  studying' 
ind  continued 
the  fact  tlnit, 
their  mode  ot 
19  without  any 
leath ;  but  his 
felled  the  w'l-^- 
liad  embraced 


:^ 


pilijnins  !*c't  out  iiiJuiic,  lOr)0,aiRl  l>y  iht;  tullowiiii^  montli  roaclied 
the  capital  of  the  Fivneh  colony. 

The  Huron  nation  was  thus  entirely  dispersed,  and  the  mission 
broken  up.  Since  the  fii*st  visit  of  La  Caron  in  101  o,  a  period  of 
tliirtv-five  veal's,  twentv-nine  missionaries  had  labored  in  tiie  penin- 
suhi  on  Lake  Huron.  Seven  of  these  had  j>erislied  l»y  the  hand  of 
violence;  eleven  still  remained.  These,  like  their  neopliytes,  scat- 
tcied ;  IJressani  went  to  Italy,  Lemercier  and  Poncet  to  the  West 
In(li<'s,  and  (Jrelon  to  China;  hut  distance  did  not  wean  their 
hearts  from  their  loui^-cherished  attVction  to  the  mission  of  tlu'ir 
early  years.  Words  could  not  describe  the  thrill  of  joy  which  filled 
the  heart  of  Grelon,  when,  years  after,  trav«>llininr  through  the  plains 
of  Tartary,  he  met  a  Huron  woman  whom  he  had  known  on  the 
shores  of  her  native  lake,  and  who,  sold  from  tribe  to  tribe,  had 
roached  the  interior  of  Asia.  There  on  the  steppes  she  knelt,  and 
ill  that  tongue,  which  neither  had  heard  for  years,  the  poor  Wyan- 
dot confessed  once  more  to  her  agi^l  pastoi.* 

*  Clinrievoix,  v.  45.  See,  too,  Hist.  Spanish  America,  London,  1742,  p.  ^4. 
For  Grelon's  Chinese  labors,  see  Navarrotc,  Lc  Cointe.  This  fact  first  led  to 
the  knowlcdj,'e  of  the  near  approach  of  America  to  Asia. 

The  best  account  of  the  Huron  mission  to  the  destruction  of  their  na- 
tional existence  is  the  "Breve  Kelatione"  of  Father  Francis  Joseph  IJrcssani. 
He  was  a  native  of  Rome,  and  enterin<f  the  Society  of  Jesus  at  the  a<^e  of  1"), 
i'peiit  many  years  as  professor  of  Literature,  Philosophy,  and  Mathematics. 
Filled  with  zeal  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  doubtless  moved  by  the  ex- 
ample of  Chaumonot  and  Poncet,  he  solicited  the  Canada  mission,  and  was 
sent  to  America  in  1642.  For  two  years  he  was  employed  amonw  the  colonist^ 
and  the  Algonquins  near  Quebec.  Sent  then  to  the  Hurons,  in  1644,  he  fell 
witli  his  companions  into  a  Mohawk  ambuscade  near  Fort  Richelieu,  and  was 
taken  prisoner.  Father  Bressani  was  tortured  and  condemned  to  the  stake. 
Led  with  every  brutality  to  the  banks  of  the  upper  Hudson,  ho  was  com- 
pelled to  run  the  gauntlet,  beaten,  cut,  and  mangled.  Then  hurried  on  again 
over  rocks  and  thorns,  famishing  with  hunger,  spent  with  blows  and  loss  of 
blood,  he  reached  the  first  Mohawk  village  to  run  again  the  fearful  race,  and 
meet  the  torture  on  the  scaffold  and  in  the  cabins.  Ho  was  now  a  living  mass 
ot'eorruptiou,  the  worms  that  bred  in  him  dropping  as  ho  moved.  Yet  lie 
lived,  and  when  they  changed  their  resolution  and  gave  liim  to  an  old  wo- 
man, she  sold  him  to  the  Dutch,  who  treated  him  kindly,  and  snnt  him  buck 


li 


CllAl'TKU    VIII. 


i 

1 
i 

« 

{ 

i 

1 

THK  HURON  MISSION — (concluded.) 

Tlio  lltirun.s  ut  Qiitbec — FiithiT  ('liauinonot  niiil  liis  luboro — Troubled  by  the  Irociiioi*-- 
Subsequent  liistory — Present  state  -11  urons  of  St.  Josejili's  Isle— Tlieir  division — !!»• 
tons  at  Mackinaw — Menard  dies  on  bis  way  to  t)ieireain|)  on  (Jreen  Ibiy — Allouez  ai 
Cheyojjnejjon — Marfjuette — Iteliirn  to  Mackinaw  In  eonseiiuenee  of  Sioux  war- 
Mission  of  St.  It'natlus — Its  blstory — lUuiovnl  to  Detroit — Sundiisky  and  Indian  tir. 
ritory— (jeneral  view.  ^ 

Tiir.  Iliirons  who  went  to  Qiu-boc  were  received  there  with  all 
cliarity,  and  placed  by  the  .Jesuits  on  lands  of  theirs  at  Heaupoit, 
wliere  they  had  alrea<ly  tonned  a  colony  of  that  unfortunate  nation. 
Notwitlistandino^  all  the  eti'oits  iA'  tlieir  |)astoi's  their  sutfcrino^s  were 
extreme,  for  the  charity  of  the  white-man  is  far  different  from  tlif 
hospitality  of  the  Indian.  After  some  struggles  with  poverty  and 
misery  tliey  lemoved  to  Isle  Orleans  in  1051,  where  a  church  and 
fort  were  constructed,  and  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  gave  them 
ample  sup})ort.  (J uided  by  Father  Leonard  Garreau  and  by  Fatlur 
Peter  Mary  J.  Chaumouot,  two  of  their  surviving  pastel's,  they  be- 
came models  of  piety  and  fervor.  The  latter  missionary  spent  most 
of  his  life  among  them,  and  completing  the  knowledge  of  the  llu- 

to  France.  Canada  was  still  liis  choice  ;  lie  returned  in  July,  1645,  and  pr> 
ceeclcd  to  the  Huron  country,  and,  in  1G4S,  accompanied  a  party  to  Quebec, 
wliich,  attacked  by  the  Mohawks,  defeated  them  with  loss.  lie  returned  tlie 
same  year.  Atler  tlie  death  of  Daniel,  Brebeuf,  and  Lalcmant,  ho  was  sent 
to  Quebec  again  in  September,  1649,  for  aid,  butcoidd  not  return  till  the  fol- 
lowing year.  Wounded  on  the  way  by  the  Iroquois,  who  aj^ain  attacked  him, 
he  met  the  first  Huron  party  emigrating  to  Quebec,  and  learnt  the  final  rnia 
of  the  mission.  lie  sailed  for  Europe  on  tlio  1st  of  November,  1650,  aiul, 
after  preaching  many  years  in  Italy,  died  at  Florence  on  the  9th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1672.  He  published,  in  165:5,  at  Mncerata,  his  Breve  Relatione,  of  wliicli 
a  translation  appeared  at  Montreal  in  1852.  For  Fatlier  IJressani,  see  tlie 
biograpliy  in  the  latter  edition  drawn  up  by  the  editor.  Father  Felix  Martin, 
one  who  has  rendered  incalculable  services  to  the  history  of  Canada  by  lii-* 
researches,  writings,  and  collection  of  precious  documents. 


FUKNCII    MISSIONS. 


197 


■  • 


lull  (l«'nv('(|  tVoiii  linU'iit' and  (  Jmihi'  i,  lie  coiiipos^Ml  a  i^raininarot 
the  lan^uaLjt',  loii^jf  rctjanhMl  as  a  inastorj»i«*<*<'  by  the  niissiunarics 
of  Canada.*  It  was  foustaiitly  placo.l  in  the  haii<U  ot'  thus*'  uhu 
wt'iv  |»i('|tarln^  tor  th*«  missions,  aiil  t'onnoU  the  l>a*«t»  of  n»'arlv  all 
th«'  graiuniars  of  Indian  toiiifiU's  conipilrd  by  the  Kivnch  inisfiona- 
lii's.  After  rcniainini;  loni;  in  manuscript,  cofrnMl  from  hand  to 
hand,  this  admirable  work  was  published  by  tin;  Literary  and  His- 
torical Society  of  Quebec  iu  IS'Mi. 

The  Iroquois,  however,  troubled  the  pence?  of  this  little  Kden, 
where  two  sodalities  for  the  two  sexes  kept  alive  a  sjtirit  of  fervor 
and  i)iety  worthy  of  the  primitive  Church  :  the  Senecas  had,  by  the 


of  the  III 


of 


accession  ot  tlie  llurons  ot  fet.  JMicliael  and  ht.  John,  become  too 
poweiful :  the  crafty  Mohawk  and  deeper  Ononda<(a  sought,  by 
the  same  means,  to  swell  their  nund)ers.  The  Jlurons  unfortu- 
nately listened  to  both,  and,  by  unthinkiuLf  negotiations,  drew 
new  miseries  on  themselves,  bv  inomising  to  emigrate  to  both 
cantons.  While  hesitating  as  to  their  best  coiuse,  they  were  sud- 
denly attacked  bv  the  Mohawks  in  Mav,  1050,  and  nearly  a 
huiidre<l  killed  or  huriied  away  caj)tives.f  Alarmed  at  this,  the 
rest  made  overtures  of  peace ;  and  it  w  as  tinally  agieed  to  separate : 
the  Wear  family  joined  the  Mohawks;  iu  1057  the  Hock  set  out 
for  Onondaga,  and  the  remaining  family,  the  Cord,  resolved  to  re- 
main with  the  French.  The  grief  of  the  llurons  at  parting  w  ith 
their  missionaries  w.is  intense ;  but  as  there  wjis  now  every  pros- 
pect of  ])ennanent  missions  in  the  Iroquois  cantons,  they  had  still 
some  hope  of  enjoying  the  consolations  of  their  religion.  Some  of 
these  unfortunate  emigi'ants  were  soon  after  killed  without  scruple, 
hut  many  lived  for  years  in  the  various  cantons  preparing  their 
conquerors  for  tlie  faith.  Their  history  we  shall  trace  in  that  of 
tlie  Iroquois  missions.J 
The  small  body  that  remained  on  Isle  Orleans,  sought  shelter  in 


*  Cliaumonot's  Life.     +  Rcl.  16r)6-7,  ch.  3.     X  Rel.  16."i6-7,  cli.  6, 7, 10-22. 


198 


AMERICAN  CATIIOLIO  MISSIONS. 


Quebec,  and  spent  several  years  -witliin  its  walls,  till  peace  was 
aujaiii  restored,  Avhen  Chauinonot  founded  tlie  mission  of  Notre 
Dame  de  Foye,*  about  live  miles  from  the  eity.  0\vin<^  to  want 
of  proper  land,  this  mission  was  removed  by  the  same  missionary, 
in  1G93,  to  a  new  site,  where  he  erected  a  church  and  c^'apel, 
modelled  on  the  Holy  House  of  Loretto,  and  perfectly  like  it  in 
form,  materials,  dimensions,  and  furniture.  From  this  circumstance 
the  mission  took  the  name  of  Lorette.  Here  the  IJurons  long  en 
joyed  great  prosperity.f 


Piii 


{ 


It 


*  So  called  from  a  statue  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  which  had  been  sent 
from  Belgium  to  be  honored  in  an  Indian  mission  ;  as  this  statue  was  made 
of  the  oak-tree  in  which  the  miraculous  statue  of  Notre  Dame  de  Foye 
was  found,  near  Dinan  in  Belgium. — Martin's  Notes  in  Bressani,  Kelatioii 
abregee,  318. 

+  Father  Peter  Mary  Joseph  Chaumonot,  or,  as  he  sometimes  wrote  his 
name,  Chaumonnot,  was  born  in  IGll,  near  Chatillon  sur  Seine,  where  his 
father  was  a  vine-dresser.  While  studying  with  his  uncle,  a  priest,  he  was 
induced,  by  a  wicked  associate,  to  rob  his  guardian  and  go  to  Baume  to  tiii- 
ish  his  studies.  Soon  disabused,  ho  feared  to  return,  and  proceeded  on  a 
pilgrimage  to  Kome.  After  a  variety  of  adventures,  which  he  has  inimitably 
described,  he  entered  the  Society  of  Jesus,  on  the  18th  of  May,  1032,  as  the 
son  of  an  advocate,  lie  soon  revealed  the  deceit,  and,  sincerely  converted, 
devoted  liimself  to  the  stiuly  of  perfection.  While  in  his  theology.  Father 
Poncet,  then  also  a  student  at  Rome,  gave  him  one  of  Brebeuf's  Huron  Kl- 
lations,  and  lie  solicited  the  Canada  mission.  His  desire  was  granted ;  ami, 
after  being  ordained,  lie  was  sent  to  America.  He  landed  at  Quebec  on  the 
1st  of  August,  1639,  with  Father  Poncet,  and  with  him  proceeded  inmie- 
diately  to  the  Huron  territory.  Here  he  remained  till  1G50,  visiting  the  vil- 
lages of  the  llurons,  Pctuns,  and  Neutrals.  He  descended  to  Quebec  witli 
the  party  who  settled  on  Isle  Orleans,  and  was  constantly  with  them  til) 
liis  death,  on  the  21st  of  February,  1G93,  except  from  1655  to  1058,  when  In* 
was  at  Onondaga,  and  a  short  stay  at  Montreal. 

Ho  founded  JLorette,  and  from  his  devotion  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  estab 
lished  the  Confraternity  of  the  Holy  Family,  to  which  the  Pope  granted  iiu 
merous  indulgences,  and  whicii  still  subsists.  Besides  his  Huron  grainmai 
above  mentioned,  he  composed  his  *'  Racines  lluronncs,"  a  collection  of  tlio 
radical  and  derivative  words ;  a  Catechism  and  Instructions  in  Huron ;  and 
tinally,  in  1688,  his  own  autobiography,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  his  Superior, 
Father  Dablon.  None  of  these  latter  works  have  been  printed.  Ho  was  a 
man  of  great  and  eanust  piety,  boundless  zeal,  and  confidence  in  God.  lis 
humility  wiis  such  that  he  ordinarily  signed  his  letters  "Le  pauvre  lleciion,"' 


I 


FKENCII   ]^IISSIONS. 


199 


"When  Charlevoix  visited  it  in  1Y21,  the  mission  was  directed 
bv  Father  Peter  Daniel  liicher,  a  man  of  eminent  virtue.  Tho 
mission  bad  for  a  time,  during  Chaumonot's  later  years  and  after 
his  death,  been  somewhat  neglected,  but  its  fervor  was  restored, 
aiid  Richer  had  only  to  maintain  mattere  as  they  were.  Tho  fervor 
of  the  Hurons  was  such  as  to  call  forth  tho  hiifhest  eulosriums  of 
tlie  traveller,  who  dwells  on  their  patriarchal  faith,  their  upright- 
ness, their  docility  of  heart,  their  innocence  and  sincere  piety. 

Their  fervor  abated  none  of  their  valor  :  their  chiefs  figured  in 
e\  ery  war ;  and  the  defeat  of  Braddock  was  mainly  due  to  the 
courage  and  skill  of  Anastasius  the  chieftain  of  Lorette. 

The  want  of  good  ground  induced  a  subsequent  removal  to  a 
I»lace  now  known  as  Jeune  Lorette,  where  they  still  reside.  Af- 
ter having  lost  home,  language,  habits,  and  to  some  extent  their 
nationality,  this  portion  is  gradually  disappearing.  "  It  resembles," 
says  Father  Martin,  "  a  tree  which  cpuld  never  take  deep  root  in 
the  ground  to  which  it  had  been  transplanted.  Deprived  of  quick- 
ening sap,  its  detached  leaves  fall  one  after  another,  and  there  is 
no  hope  that  a  new  spring-tide  will  ever  restoi'e  the  verdure  of  its 
early  years."* 

When  the  Hurons  left  St.  Joseph's  Isle  with  the  missionaries, 
several  bands  of  the  nation  were  still  in  various  parts :  one  of  these 
made  a  stand  on  great  Manitoaline  for  a  time,  and,  under  the  gal- 
lant Stephen  Annaotaha,  defeated  the  Iroquois,  but  finally  removed 
to  (^lebec.  Some,  however,  still  clung  to  the  west,  and  ere  long 
a  Huron  colony  existetl  on  the  island  of  Michilimackinaw,  an 
island  famous  in  the  traditions  of  western  mythology.  Bleak  and 
t'xposed  as  Avas  this  little  isle,  it  was  safe,  abounded  in  excellent 
l)hu'cs  for  fishing,  was  convenient  to  fertile  lands  and  good  hunting 
ground,  and  enabled  them  to  carry  on  a  lucrative  trade. 


tlic  latter  being  his  Indian  natnc. — Autobiograpliic  du  P.  Cliauinonut;  I>ab- 
lull,  Circular  Letter,  101*3;  Creuxiiis;  l!elation3,1639  to  1G79. 
*  Martin's  Notes  ia  Bressani.  Kclatioii  abr.'goc,  018. 


I  I 


200 


AMEKICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


h 


Attacked  even  here,  tliey  removed  for  a  time  to  the  Noqiiet 
Islands,  then,  entering  Green  liay,  reached  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi  by  the  Wisconsin,  and  commencod  a  friendly  inter- 
course with  the  Illinois  ;  but,  liaving  incuiTed  the  anger  of  the 
Sioux,  they  retraced  their  steps  to  the  Noquet  Islands.  This  band 
nnnibered  about  five  hundred,  and  were  nearly  all  Christians. 
Deprived  of  pastors  and  instruction,  surrounded  by  infidels,  driven 
about  by  every  wind  of  adversity,  their  faith  was  growing  dim,  and 
the  vices  and  superstitions  of  paganism  were  again  reviving  among 
them.  Yet,  when  the  veteran  Father  Menard,  for  nine  years  a 
missionary  in  the  Huron  country,  reached  the  shores  of  Lake  Su- 
perior in  16G0,  to  plant  the  cross  among  the  Ottawas,  the  long- 
forsaken  Ilurons  on  Noquet  Island,  or  on  the  shore  at  the  moutii 
of  Menomonee  River,  sent  to  implore  him  to  visit  them,  as  the 
pagans  would  all  embrace  Christianity.  Despainng  of  doing  any 
good  among  the  Ottawas,  Father  Menard  left  Chegoimegon  in 
June,  16G1,  to  traverse  the  forest.  On  his  way  want  of  food  broke 
up  the  party ;  his  Indians  left  him  with  a  faithful  Frenchman, 
named  Guerin,  and  soon  after,  at  a  portage,  the  aged  Father  lost 
his  way,  or  was  taken  by  a  roving  band  of  Sioux.* 

Soon  after  this  the  Hurons  removed  to  Chegoimegon,  and  were 
there  when  Father  Allouez  began  his  mission  at  that  place,  in 
1665.  These  poor  wanderers  were  of  course  the  first  objects  of 
his  care,  for  he  was  not  ignorant  of  their  language.  He  endeavored 
to  recall  them  :  some  listened  to  his  words.  One  woman,  whom 
Father  Garnier  had  been  about  to  baptize  when  death  cut  short 
his  career,  was  now  prepared  for  baptism  by  Allouez,  and  expiied 
soon  after  receiving  the  sacrament.  The  instructions  of  Garnier 
had  sunk  deep  into  their  hearts,  but  long  want  of  pastore  had  al- 
lowed vice  and  superstition  to  grow  up.f  The  eftbrts  of  Allouez 
to  root  out  these  vices  and  supei-stitions  failed ;  the  Hurons  proved 


•  Kel.  1659-60,  p.  61 ;  Eel.  1662-3,  ch.  8. 


+  Rel.  lt>j6-7,  p.  74. 


FRE>'Cn    MISSIONS. 


201 


so  unjrratet'ul  to  his  toil,  tlwit,  in  IGGO,  tliey  were  deprived  ot'  the 
consolcitiou  they  had  once  solicited.  Aliouez  was  summoned  to 
other  fields,  and  his  successor,  Father  .lames  Marquette,  was  then 
almost  ignorant  of  the  Huron  tonoue,  and  unable  to  give  them  in- 
structions. This  produced  an  imj)ressiou  on  them,  and  a  change 
was  soon  visible,  but  new  troubles  arose.  In  their  folly  the 
Ilurons  and  Ottawas  pi'ovoked  the  Dacotahs  to  war,  and  both 
were  compelled  to  fly  before  these  formidable  enemies ;  the  Ot- 
tawas first  launched  their  canoes  on  the  lake,  and  steered  to 
!Manitodline,  leaving  Father  Marquette  with  the  Ilurons.  That 
remnant  of  a  mighty  nation  resolved  also  to  commit  themselves  to 
the  waves,  and  seek  a  new  home.  With  their  faithful  missionary, 
they  embarked  in  tlieir  frail  canoes,  and  once  more  turned  towards 
their  ancient  home.  Fain  would  they  have  revisited  the  scenes  of 
Huron  power,  and  the  fur-lined  graves  of  their  ancestoi-s.  Fain 
too  would  the  missionary  have  gone  to  spend  his  surviving  yeare 
on  the  g'ound  hallowed  by  the  blood  of  Daniel,  Brebeuf,  Lale- 
mant,  Garnier,  and  Chabanel,  but  the  power  of  the  Iroquois  was 
still  too  great  to  justify  the  step,  and  the  fugitives,  remembering 
the  rich  fisheries  of  Mackinaw,  resolved  to  return  to  that  pebbly 
strand.  A  fort  was  raised  on  the  northern  shore,  inclosing  their 
chapel  and  cabins.  Separated  now  from  other  tribes,  they  listened 
to  their  devoted  missionary,  and  profited  by  his  instructions. 
Even  when  he  was  temporarily  absent,  they  were  always  regular 
in  their  attendance  at  chapel  to  chant  their  prayers.  Some  pagans 
in  the  band  solicited  baptism :  dreams  and  superstitions  were  re- 
jected, and  there  was  every  prospect  of  seeing  this  little  remnant 
as  fervent  as  their  brethren  at  Lorette.  A  sort  of  mission  or  retreat 
etiected  much  good  :  general  confession  produced  a  marked  change. 
But  the  good  missionary  was  now  about  to  set  out  on  the  voyage 
which  has  immortalized  his  name.* 


*  Rel.  1671-2;  Eel.  1672-3;  Life  of  Marquctto  in  Shea's  Exploration  and 
Discovery  of  the  Mississippi,  Ixi. 

«* 


I 


h^ 


t- 


202 


AMElilCAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


I! 


As  some  Ottawas  also  gatliored  liere,  Father  Nouvel  took  cbarge 
of  tbeni,  and  Father  Pierson  succeeded  to  Marquette.  As  the  vil- 
lages lay  apart,  a  new  and  more  conmiodious  church  was  built 
between  the  two.  Under  their  new  niissionaiy  the  neophytes  in- 
creased in  fervor,  and  were  guided  by  two  dogiques,  or  chiefs  of 
prayer,  who  fulfilled  their  duties  zealously.*  This  church  was  the 
lionored  spot  where  the  bones  of  Marquette  rest.  Taken  up  a  few 
years  after  his  death  by  the  Ottawas,  they  were  with  much  pomp 
conveyed  to  the  mission,  and  there,  unknown  and  unhonored,  rests 
the  explorer  of  the  Mississippi,  the  pious  and  fearless  Marqut^tte. 

Some  years  later,  general  wars  prevailed,  and  the  Ilurons,  as 
allies  of  the  French,  took  part  in  the  various  war  parties,  greatly 
to  the  detriment  of  the  mission  cause.  Kondiaronk,  or  the  Kat, 
nearly  ruined  Canada  by  his  treacherous  intrigues ;  and  another 
chief,  named  the  Baron,  joined  the  Iroquois  with  many  of  the 
tnbe.  About  1 V02,  when  peace  was  restored,  Detroit  was  founded, 
and  the  Hurons,  leaving  Michilimackinac,  settled  near  the  new 
post.f  Here  they  remained,  guided  and  directed  by  their  mission- 
aiies,  for  several  years,  but  owing  to  the  opposition  of  some  factious 
chiefs,  the  missionaries  were  compelled  to  withdraw  ;  and  in  1721, 
when  Father  Charlevoix  visited  the  mission,  the  place  wfis  vacant. 
Sjisteratsi,  the  hereditary  chief  of  the  Tionontates,  was  a  child, 
and  his  grandmother  earnestly  implored  the  Jesuit  to  obtain  them 
a  missionary.  Convinced  of  their  sincerity,  he  made  such  repre- 
sentations as  at  last  obtained  them  the  object  of  their  desire.  The 
mission  Register  shows  a  resident  pastor  from  1728.J  Fervor 
was  restored  again,  and  the  mission,  flourishing  under  its  new 
guides,  was  removed  to  the  opposite  shore. 

Father  do  la  Richardie  was  stationed  among  the  Hurons  of 
Detroit  from  at  least  1738  ;§  and  in  1751,  led  apart  of  the  Hurons 


i  i 


*  Eel.  1678-9 ;  Ottawa,  cli.  3,  art.  8. 
X  Kegistcr  at  Sandwich. 


t  Charlevoix,  iv.  5. 
§  McCube,  Dircctorv-. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


203 


■■. 


to  Sandusky,*  and  these,  under  the  name  of  Wyandots,  soon  took 
an  active  part  in  the  aft"aii*8  of  the  west:  they  were  conspicuous  in 
the  hist  French  war,  and  at  its  close  in  Poutiac's  conspiracy, 
though  long  withheld  by  the  intluence  of  Father  Potier.  During 
these  times  of  troubles  the  missionaries  were  driven  from  San- 
dusky ;  and  though  a  regular  succession  was  kept  up  at  the  mis- 
sion of  the  Assum|)tion  near  Detroit,  still  the  suppression  of  the 
Jesuits  prepared  for  its  close.  Father  J.  13.  Salleneuve  was  there 
till  1700;  and  Father  Peter  Potier,  the  last  Jesuit  missionary  to 
the  western  llurons,  died  in  July,  1V81  :  after  that  the  Indians 
depended  entirely  on  the  priests  at  the  French  posts.f  The 
AVyandots  at  Sandusky  were  thus  cut  off  from  all  spiritual  instruc- 
tion, but  they  did  not  lose  their  faith.  When  the  State  began  to 
be  settled,  they  attracted  the  attention  of  Protestant  missionaries, 
who  seem  disposed  rather  to  undo  what  Catholics  have  done,  than 
to  begin  by  combating  heathendom  on  its  own  ground.  Between 
1803  and  1810,  the  Ke v.  Joseph  Badger,  a  l*resbyterian,  attempted 
a  mission  among  the  Wyandots,  but  was  steadily  opposed  by  the 
chiefs,  who,  it  is  said,  actually  put  to  death  one  who  had  renounced 
the  Catholic  faith.  The  Methodists  made  the  next  attempt ;  and 
as  the  old  members  of  the  tribe,  who  liad  in  youth  been  properly 
instructed,  died  off,  their  descendants,  bereft  of  priests,  listened  to 
the  new  preachers.J 

The  Wyandots  were  subsequently  deported  to  Indiaii  territory, 
and  are  now  the  smallest  but  wealthiest  of  all  the  exiles.  Doubt- 
less the  remembrance  of  their  days  of  faith  is  still  fresh  in  their 
minds,  and  we  may  yet  see  a  Catholic  missionary  among  them,  a 
successor  of  Le  Caron  and  Brebeuf. 


!  I 


VA 


'■  Register  at  Sandwich. 

+  Hubert  and  Glapion.  Tapcra  in  the  Bureau  des  Terres,  Canada.  Tho 
*^>iily  u.oiiutncnts  remaining  at  Sandwich  are  tho  Registers,  some  Huron 
^Tiitmnars,  dictionaries,  and  parish-Usts. 

1  Arciu«?ologia  Americaua,  i.  272. 


204 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


>t,  ,1 


i 


]  -■  -i' 


IS 


We  have  thus  traced  the  histoiy  of  the  Huron  mission  in  the 
country  of  that  people,  and  glanced  at  the  state  of  the  Church  in 
the  village  of  Lorette,  and  amid  the  western  band.  The  others  we 
shall  meet  again  in  the  history  of  the  Iroquois  mission,  where  in 
captivity,  like  the  children  of  Israel,  they  mingled  their  tears 
with  the  torrents,  and  sung  to  the  Lord  in  a  strange  land.  Such 
was  the  Huron  mission,  the  boast  of  the  Jesuit  Fathers  in 
Canada,  the  scene  of  their  utmost  zeal  and  devotedness.  It  is  in- 
deed a  noble  monument.  The  mission  had  converted  a  nation ;  it 
had  produced  Christians  eminent  for  piety.  Joseph  Chihatenhwa, 
whom  the  missionaries  invoked  after  his  death ;  Ahasistari,  the 
bravest  warrior  of  his  day,  and  as  devoted  a  Christian ;  the  Atiron- 
tas,  in  whose  family  piety  was  hereditary;  Paul,  the  Dogique; 
Francis  Tehoronhiongo,  whom  we  shall  meet  again ;  and,  in  later 
days,  Anastasius,  the  victor  at  Braddock's  defeat,  are  men  worthy 
of  the  brightest  days  of  the  Church.  Women  and  children  evinced 
an  heroic  fortitude  in  professing  their  faith,  and  resisting  alike  the 
allurements  and  the  threats  of  their  pagan  relatives  and  countiymen. 

It  led,  in  an  ethnological  point  of  view,  to  great  and  glorious 
results — the  identity  of  the  various  branches  of  the  Huron  and  Iro- 
quois stock,  the  analysis  of  three  dialects,  a  complete  grammar, 
dictionary,  and  exegesis  of  the  Huron,  the  mother  tongue,  devo- 
tional works  for  the  use  of  the  converts.  Incidentally,  too,  the  mis- 
sionaries and  their  attendants  were  explorers  of  the  west ;  the  fii"st 
to  visit  Lake  Superior  and  Lake  Michigan,  and  study  the  great 
water  valley^  of  central  America ;  while  Marquette,  the  founder  of 
the  Huron  mission  at  Michilimackinac,  has  given  undying  fame  to 
his  name  by  the  exploration  of  the  Mississippi.* 

*  Shea's  discovery  and  exploration  of  the  Mississippi,  Bedfiold,  1852. 


^ 


.^r- 


ision  in  the 
}  Church  in 
e  others  we 
n,  where  in 
their  tears 
ind.     Sucli 
Fathers   in 
s.     It  is  in- 
a  nation ;  it 
lihatenhwa, 
asistari,  the 
the  Atiron- 
s  Dogique; 
id,  in  later 
len  worthy 
ren  evinced 
g  ahke  the 
Duntrymen. 
id  glorious 
)n  and  Iro- 
grammar, 
igue,  dero- 
)0,  the  rais- 
t ;  the  fii-st. 
r  the  great 
founder  of 
3g  fame  to 


Id,  1852. 


•  ''•t^' 


11 


-xxv^^" 


s 


I 

1   f 

i 

'# 


ClIAPTEK   IX. 

THE     IKOQUOIS    MISSION. 

The  Ki'collects  design  an  Iroquois  mission — One  of  them,  Father  Poulaln,  a  captivf — 
The  Ilnro'i  war— Captivity  of  Father  Jogucs — His  escape— Kindness  of  the  Dutcli — 
("apllvity  of  Fallier  IJressanl— Ills  ransom — Peace— F.  Jogiies  returns  to  (.'aniida.  Is 
sent  as  envoy  to  the  Mohawks — Concludes  the  negotiations — He  founds  tlie  mK>«l(»n 
—Ills  glorious  death. 

In  tlie  history  of  the  Iluroii  mission  we  have  frequently  alhi(k'<l 
to  the  Iroquois,  a  confederacy  of  five  nations  livini^  in  the  State  of 
Now  York,  the  irreconcilable  enemies  of  the  Ilurons,  Algonqiiins, 
and  French  in  Canada,  fn  origin,  manners,  and  language,  they 
resemble  the  Wyandots:  their  distinctive  name  wjus  Ilotinnonsionni, 
or  the  complete  cabin.  The  French  gave  both  these  tribes  at  fii-st 
the  name  Hiroquais,  from  a  woid  used  in  their  speeches  and  their 
usual  ciy.*  The  Wyandots,  however,  soon  acquired  the  nickname 
of  Hurons,  and  the  term  Iroquois  was  applied  exclusively  to  the 
Five  Nations.  As  the  great  Champlain  joined  their  enemies  before 
Quebec  was  fortified,  a  war  ensued  which  occupies  the  whole  early 
history  of  Canada — a  war  which  destroyed  the  noblest  miss'ons  of 
the  north — a  war  which  seemed  to  close  forever  the  way  of  the 
gospel  to  the  cabins  of  the  Iroquois.  Such  was  not,  however,  the 
design  of  the  Almighty,  who  makes  human  passions  and  hu- 
man errors  contribute,  unseen  and  unobserved,  to  the  glory  of  his 
Church. 

The  apostolic  men  who  founded  the  Canada  mission  longed  to 
attempt  the  •conversion  of  these  Romans  of  the  west.  A  Recollect 
Father,  William  Poulain,  was  a  prisoner  in  their  hands,  in  1621, 


*  Hiro  closed  every  speech,  like  the  Dixi  of  the  Latins.    Kouai  was  a  cry 
of  warning  or  alarm.    The  ois  should  properly  be  pronounced  k. 


i>0() 


AMKItlCAN   C'ATHolJC    MISSIONS. 


Jit  the  r;i|»itls  dI'  St.  l.ouis,  ;iii<l  coiisoli-tl  liiriisrlt'  tor  lii.-.  >iitrcriin,ri 
l>y  instructing  in  tlic  t'aitli  sonic  lr(M|nt>is  prisoners,*  in  liopcs  ot'oin' 
ilny  visitiiiif  tlicir  laltins.  Wln-n  tin-  .Jcsuils  cnnn'  lo  tlic  aiti  of 
tile  l(cc(»llccts,  it  was  resolved  tiiat  some  (»t"tlie  Huron  missionaries 
sliouiil  cross  the  Niaijaia  an<l  found  a  mission  amoiii;'  tlieSeneca>; 
but  the  deatli  of  l«'athcr  \'icl  and  suhseijucnl  misl'oitunes  in  tin- 
colony  prevented  the  rcahzation  of  the  s<'heme.  At  the  coik  hi^inii 
of  peace,  which  (Jlnunpiain  eHected  in  10*27,  Urotlier  (Jervase  M. - 
liier  was  about  to  set  (^»nt  for  thcMtdiawk  witli  the  Canada  en\o\>; 
liut  deiayinuf  in  order  to  receive  liis  Suj»erior's  appr(»valof  liisnii>- 
hion,  oscapi'd  the  cruel  death  which  overtook  the  mi'sseiij^eis  oi' 
peace.f 

From  that  time,  for  many  a  loni^  yt'JH',  mu  IrocjUois  mission  was 
but  a  dream;  an<l,  when  founded  at  last,  men  could  scarce  credii 
its  reality. 

The  war  ai^ainst  the  Indians  of  Canada,  waited  by  the  Iroijuois, 
liad  not  fallen  on  the  French  ;  but  at  a  restoration  of  some  French 
captives  unharmed  in  1G40,  a  coirisit)n  took  })lace  wliich  infuriated 
the  Mohawks,  and  led  to  a  change  of  conduct.  Ilenceforwaid, 
they  proclaimed,  French  and  Huron  should  be  treated  alike,  and 
war-bands  besot  all  the  water  communications  of  the  north,  ready 
to  pounce  on  either.  The  Huron  missionaries  were  thus  reduced 
to  n  state  of  great  want;  and,  in  1042,  Fathers  Jogues  and  liayni- 
baut,  who  had  just  planted  the  cross  in  Michigan,  set  out  for 
Quebec,  conscious  of  the  danger,  but  rea<ly  to  meet  it.  The  party 
of  Indians  with  whom  they  went  reached  Quebec  in  safety;  Jogu^'^^ 
executed  his  various  conmiissions,  and  prepared  to  return  with  the 
llurons.  After  commending  themselves  to  God  the  party  set  out, 
but  two  days  after  discovered  a  trail  on  the  sliore.  Uncertain 
whether  it  was  that  of  a  hostile  party  or  not,  the  Huron  cliief 
Ahasistari,  too  confident  in  his  numbers,  ordered  the  convoy  ou 


i . 


*  Lo  Clercq.  i.  200. 


f  Cliamplniij ;  Siigard,  483. 


FUKNCII   MISSIONS. 


207 


uifM  IIh'  wry  mn 


1st  of 


all  anil>us<'a<l* 


A  vi>ll»'v  tVuiii  tin-  iH-arcst 


,x|ini«'  iiil<ll('<|  thoir  caiKH's,  Hiitl  Wisclosfd  tin*  tlaiiL(«'i'.  TIk'  Iluioiis 
ll.il  to  tho  isliorc.  Tho  iiiiHsionarv,  al^cr  stoopiiii,'  to  hapti/t'  a 
catt'clMmuMi  ill  his  crmot',  followed  tlio  t'liifitives,  but  st<»(Ml  aioiit* 
on  tlu'  l>aJik,  wliilc  in  tiu;  distance  lie  heard  the  noise  nf  the  j»nr- 
Kiiers  and  ]>iii'sue(l.  lie  nii<^ht  have  tlod ;  but  could  he,  a  minister 
uft'hrist,  abandon  the  wounded  and  dyinj^J  Lookini;  around,  he 
saw  some  captives  in  charj^o  of  a  few  Mohawks,  and,  joiniiii;  tlu-m, 
iered  himself.    Ahasistari,  with  (Culture,  a  Krenchm.'m,  dr«'w 


nilTeM( 

.tr 


il'etv;  but  not   tindinir  tho  ini.^ 


•turru'd  t< 


on  a  |»art  in  salety;  i>ut  not  nnding  mo  nnssionary,  returru-n  lo 
>liar(!  his  fate,  as  the  cliief  liad  sworn  to  do:  such  was  the  devotion 
dfvotedness  could  inspire, 

When  tlu;  j)Ui'suit  was  over,  the  ^^ohawk  warriors  ijradually  re- 
turucd  and  gathered  aroun<l  their  prisoners.  IJesides  Father  .(<»gn<'s 
and  the  brave  Couture,  there  was  Itcne  Cioupil,  onc(!  a  novice,  now 
a  doniie*  of  the  mission,  a  man  who  had  nfiven  himself  to  the  service 
of  the  Fatliers  without  any  hope  of  earthly  rewanl.  Ahasistari  and 
nineteen  other  Ilurons  completed  the  group.  Torture  soon  began. 
Couture  had  slain  a  diief;  he  was  now  stripped,  beaten,  and  man- 
gled ;  and  Father  Jogues,  who  consoh'd  him,  was  violently  attacked, 
beaten  till  he  fell  senseless,  for  they  rushe<lon  him  lib-  wolves,  and, 
not  content  with  blows,  tore  out  his  nails  and  gnawed  the  tingiii's 
to  the  very  bone. 

Feaiful  now  of  pursuit  the  victors  started  for  their  village,  hur- 
rying their  captives  througli  the  wilderness,  all  covered  with  wounds, 
suffering  from  hunger,  lieat,  and  the  cruelty  which  never  ceased  to 
add  to  their  torments  by  opening  their  wounds,  thrusting  awls  into 
their  flesh,  plucking  the  beard  or  hair.     AVhile  sailing  through 


*  These  donius  or  yiven-men  wen-  i  ssoc'mted  to  Franciscan  as  well  as 
Jesuit  missions.  Many  subsequently  bucutnc  eminent  men  in  Cnnada,  ami 
others  are  deserving  of  the  highest  rank  among  the  missionary  laborers. 
Couture,  Le  Coq,  Le  Moyne,  Douay,  and  several  otliers,  deserve  especial 
"icntion. 


208 


AMf:iUCAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


! 

\ 

1 

Lake  Chaniplaiu  they  descried  anotlier  party,  wliicli  landed  on  an 
island,  raised  a  scatiold,  and  formed  a  double  line,  through  whicli 
the  line  ot"  captives  closed  by  Jogues  was  forced  to  run,  while  blows 
were  showered  upon  them.  The  missionary  sank  under  the  clubs 
and  iron  rods.  "God  alone,"  he  exclaims,  "for  whose  love  and 
gloiy  it  is  sweet  and  gloiious  to  suffer,  can  tell  what  cruelties  tin. y 
perpetrated  on  me  then."  Dragged  to  the  scaffold,  he  was  again 
assailed,  bruised,  and  burned ;  liis  closing  wounds  now  gaped  afresh, 
most  of  his  remaininir  nails  were  torn  out,  and  liis  hands  so  dislo- 
cated  that  they  never  recovered  their  natural  shape.  Amid  all 
these  tnals  the  good  missionary  Avas  silent,  grieving  less  for  him- 
self than  for  his  comrades  in  misfortune,  and  for  the  Huron  church, 
whose  oldest  membei's  were  now  on  their  w.ay  to  death. 

Another  party,  which  met  them  on  Lake  Champlaiu,  treated 
them  with  similar  cruelty ;  but  leaving  Lake  George  they  pursued 
their  march  on  foot,  and  on  the  fourteenth  of  August  came  to  the 
river  beyond  which  lay  the  fii'st  Mohawk  village.*  The  shout  of 
the  warriore  emerging  from  the  woods  was  answered,  and  the  vil- 
lage poured  out  to  receive  the  captives.  Again  the  gauntlet  was 
to  be  run,  and  through  "  this  narrow  path  to  paradise,"  amid  the 
descending  clubs  and  rods  of  iron  they  sped  on  to  the  scaftokl, 
where  new  cruelties  awaited  them.  The  missionary's  left  thumb 
was  hacked  off  by  an  Algonquin  slave ;  Rene's  right  with  :i 
clam-shell.  None  of  the  party  escaped.  Night  brought  no 
relief.  Tied  to  the  ground,  with  legs  and  arms  extended,  they 
writhed  in  vain  to  escape  the  hot  coals  thrown  on  them  by  the 
children. 

*  This  tribe  were  usually  called  by  the  French  the  Agniers.  Their  name 
as  given  by  Megapolcnsia,  Bruyas,  and  Barclay,  is  Kajingahaga,  Gannloire- 
haga,  Ganingchage.  This  last  termination  was  sometimes  changed  to  ronon, 
and  the  tribe  called  Ganniegeronon,  whence  the  French  name.  The  Mohawk 
word  means  a  Bear,  and  the  Algonquins  translating  it,  called  the  tribe 
"  Maquaaa,"  or  "  Mahakwa."  From  them  the  Dutch  and  English  adopted 
the  name,  and  wrote  it  Mohawk.— Briiyas'  Dictionary,  MS. 


I'. 


!    i 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


209 


Led  thence  to  two  otlier  villac^es,  they  experienced  similar  treat- 
ment in  all ;  the  scaftbld  in  the  third  was  already  occupied  by 
Huron  prisoners,  several  of  whom  were  catechumens.  I'he  mis- 
sionaiy,  on  reaching  them,  made  instant  inquiries  as  to  their  reh- 
o;i()n :  confessing  the  Chiistians,  he  piej>arod  the  others  for  baptism  ; 
but  ahis !  a  prisoner  himself,  he  could  not  procure  a  drop  of  water. 
Just  then  an  Indian  passing  flung  him  a  stalk  of  maize ;  it  was 
morning,  and  the  broad  leaves  glistened  with  dew.  Gathering  the 
precious  drops  in  his  hand  he  baptized  two,  and  as  they  left  the 
scatlbld  he  conferred  the  sacrament  on  another  while  crossing  a 
little  streamlet.     Thus  was  the  mission  begun  on  the  Mohawk. 

A  council  of  Sachems  decreed  that  all  should  die  ;  but,  on  further 
consideration,  reserved  the  French  prisoners,  and  of  the  llurons 
chose  but  three  for  the  stake.  Eustace  Ahasistari,  Paul,  and  8te- 
jdien,  were  put  to  death  with  the  usual  barbarities  in  the  three 
villages  of  the  tribe. 

Couture  was  adopted.  Father  Jogues  and  Rene,  left  uncarcd 
for,  fell  into  a  kind  of  debility,  under  which  they  nearly  sank.  In 
vain  the  charitable  Hollanders  of  Fort  Orange  raised  a  sum  of 
money,  and  sent  Arendt  Van  Curler  to  redeem  them ;  the  Indians 
evaded  their  request  by  delusive  promises.  Soon  after  a  war-party 
came  in,  which  had  met  repulse  and  loss  in  an  attack  on  the 
French.  Stung  to  madness  by  this  defeat,  the  tribe  breathed 
nothing  but  threats ;  Jogues,  to  avoid  violence,  drew  Rene  aside 
to  a  little  grove  near  the  village  of  Andagoron,  but  tlie  doom 
of  the  young  physician  was  already  sealed,  lie  had  been  seen 
to  make  the  sign  of  the  cross  on  the  forehead  of  a  child,  and 
as  the  Dutch  had  told  the  Mohawks  that  the  sign  was  not  good, 
the  master  of  the  cabin  ordered  Reno  to  be  put  to  death.  Two 
young  men  set  out,  and  as  Jogues  and  Rene,  after  long  and  fervent 
prayer  and  self-oblation  to  Goil,  were  returning  to  the  village,  they 
^vc're  met  by  the  two  braves,  who  ordered  them  to  return  at  once. 
Conscious  that  death  was  nigh,  they  began  to  say  their  beads,  and 


210 


AMEIMCAN    CATHOLIC    MIS.SIONS. 


k  ! 


"vveic  just  at  the  palisades  wlieii  one  of"  the  Mohawks,  jerkiiin'  his 
tonialiawk  from  beneath  liis  mantle,  buiual  it  deep  in  the  head  of 
(Joupil.  The  name  of  Jesus  bui-st  from  his  lii)s  as  he  fell  on  his 
tace  in  Ids  agony.  Father  Jogiies,  who  had  shortly  before  receiveil 
him  into  the  Society,  knelt  to  share  his  fate,  but  was  dragged  oil", 
and  beheld  his  dear  In'other's  sacrifice  completed  by  repeated  blows 
which  freed  his  spint  from  its  mangled  hold.* 

Obliged  to  leave  the  body  for  a  time,  the  missionary  secured  it 
the  next  day,  at  the  peril  of  his  life,  in  order  to  inter  it;  but  it 
was  stolen,  and  lie  found  it  only  in  the  spring,  a  blanched  aiul 
scattered  skeleton. 

Now  solitary  amid  the  ^fohawks,  Jogues  devoted  his  leisure 
moments  to  the  spiritual  comfort  of  the  Huron  captives,  who  were 
scattered  through  the  towns.  The  M(jhawk  dialect  ditfered  su 
mu(!h  from  the  Huron,  that  he  was  unable  to  address  himself  on 
religious  topics  to  the  natives;  and  in  daily  expectation  of  death, 
with  no  writing  materials,  he  deemed  it  useless  to  attempt  a 
comparison  of  the  two  dialects.f     Led  as  a  slave  to  the  huntinn- 

*  Ecne  Goupil,  or  "the  good  Rene,"  as  all  oalleJ  him,  was  a  native  of 
Aiij^crs,  and  educated  as  a  physician,  lie  entered  the  Society  of  Jesus,  l)iit 
was  compelled  to  leave  from  Avant  of  health.  On  his  recovery,  he  ottered 
himself  as  a  donne  to  tlic  Canada  mission.  He  hero  rendered  signal  ser- 
vices, especially  in  the  care  of  the  sick,  and  was  admired  by  all  tor  his  good- 
ness, piety,  zeal,  and  devotion,  lie  was  put  to  death  September  'iy,  I'llJ. 
The  fullest  sketch  of  his  life  is  in  a  immuscript  of  Father  Jogues  ;  and  that 
illustrious  missionary  does  not  hesitate  to  call  him  "a  martyr,  not  only  to 
obedience,  but  also  to  faith  and  the  Cross.'' 

+  We  have  already  given  the  Huron,  and  to  elfect  a  comparison  we  luiv 
atld  tlie  Our  Father  in  Mohawk,  according  to  the  version  of  J.,awrenee  Cia- 
esse,  an  Indian  interpreter  at  Albany  about  a  century  since,  taken  fiMin 
t!ie  prayer-book  entitled,  "  Xc  orhoeugcnc  neoni  yogaraskhagh  yoinlcii' 
iiUiiyendagwa''  (no  date  or  place) :  '•  Soiigirwaniha  ne  karonyagc  tighsideroi;, 
wasaghnadogeaghtine.  Sanayert  ieni  iewe,  tau:serra  cighniawan  siniyought 
karoii'/yagoush,  oni  oghwatisiage.  Xiyadewigimiserogc  ta^'irwanadaranon- 
dagiisik  nonwa:  neoni  tondagwarighwiyoughston,  siniyuirht  oni  lakwala- 
derighwiyoughstcani  ;  neoni  toghsa  diighwasarinoirht  dewaddat  ileiuii-^ 
ta^-jitongge  nesane  sedjadagwairhs  nc  kondetjhseroheanse.  Amen."  Tli:ii 
ft)rm  in   the   prayer-book    cnlitled,    '' Ne  yagawagh  niyadewijrhnironi^'e. ' 


FKKNCI!    MISSIONS. 


211 


tukcu  tV'.in 


linadiiraiit'ii- 


1 


Lcrounds,  ho  drew  on  liimscif  ill  troatinciit  and  tliroats  of  dcatli 
hy  liis  linuncss  in  rot'iisinij^  to  toiu-li  food  wiiidi  iiad  iK'on  olli'U'd 
to  tlic  demon  Aircsk«ji,  as  well  as  l»y  liis  c<jnstant  prayer  before 
a  rude  cross,  carved  on  a  stately  tree.  When  his  work  was  done, 
lie  roamed  the  wood  chantinu^  psalms  from  recollection,  or  Ciirvinj^ 
the  name  of  Jesus  on  the  trees,  t«^  consecrate  the  land  to  llim. 
Loaded  with  venison,  lie  was  sent  back  to  the  village  ;  there, 
jaded  and  exliausted,  to  beijin  new  menial  toils. 

liy  this  time,  liowever,  his  knowledge  of  the  language  enabled 
liiin  to  converse,  and  the  sachems  soon  began  to  resj)ect  him. 
Availing  Inmself  of  this  im}>ression,  he  visited  the  other  towns  to 
iiiiiiister  to  the  Christians,  bajjtize  infants  in  danger  of  death,  in- 
struct the  sick,  and  confer  the  saciaments,  where  they  were  touched 
by  grace.  Above  all,  when  unfortunat(!  prisoners  were  brought  in 
to  (lie,  the  missionary  went  to  meet  tlicni,  instructed,  baptized,  or 
confessed  them,  as  occasion  reijuired  ;  sometimes  amid  the  very 
tlaines,  for  he  alwavs  assisted  them  in  death. 

This  he  now  deemed  the  mission  assigned  him  by  the  Almighty, 
the  etforts  of  the  Dutch,  as  well  as  those  of  his  countrymen  and 
the  Sokoki  Indians  to  ert'ect  his  libeiation,  having  all  failed.  His 
life  had  l>een  almost  miraculously  s})ared,  and  was  as  miraculously 
Mistained  in  the  frequent  attempts  made  to  ilestroy  ]»im. 

Several  times,  with  parties  of  In<Iians,  he  entered  the  Dutch  set- 
tlement of  Rensselaerswyck,*  but  juade  no  etlort  to  es(;ape.  Here, 
ill  August,  1G43,  he  wrote,  in  elegant  Latin  and  in  the  form  of  a  letter 
to  Ills  provimtial,  a  narrative  of  his  captivity  and  sutferings,  one  of 
the  most  precious  monuments  of  the  time,  so  simple,  yet  touching 
;ui(l  sublime.     After  writing  it  he  })roeeeded  to  the  banks  of  the 


Oaiiies,  New  York,  17C0,  unci  that  given  by  Sinitli,  Hist.  New  York,  i.  5:5, 
probably  of  Onoquag^,  are  substantially  the  same  ;  but  tliat  given  by  Davis 
in  liis  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  New  York,  1S37,  is  ditFerent,  and  identi- 
cal with  that  URod  by  tlio  Cauglinawagas,  from  whom  it  was  probiil)ly 
taken. 
*  The  modern  Albanv. 


212 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


'    i 


W    I 


) 


f  ! 


Hudson  to  tish  ;  but  as  he  was  ivturninn-  to  tlie  villaj^c,  the  Dutch, 
liearing  tluit  the  iM<^liawks,  provoked  by  a  defeat  before  Fort 
Richelieu,  had  resolved  on  his  death,  advised  him  to  escape,  and 
prortered  their  aid.  l^elieving  the  Mohawk  to  be  his  mission, 
Jogues  liesitated,  and  only  after  a  night  of  prayer  consented. 
The  following  night  he  arose  from  among  liis  sleeping  guards, 
and,  with  cautious  step  and  anxious  eye,  stole  from  the  shed  in 
■which  they  wei'e ;  but  scarce  had  he  a  moment  to  rejoice  at  his 
escape,  when  the  dogs  sprang  u})on  him  and  bit  him  severely,  while 
their  barking  aroused  the  Indians.  Compelled  now  to  return,  he 
lay  down,  hopeless  of  succeeding;  but  as  tiie  Indians  fell  asleep, 
towards  daybreak  he  rose,  and  reached  the  river,  where  he  found 
a  boat,  and  after  much  toil  gained  a  vessel  in  the  stream,  and  was 
liid  away.  Ilis  escape  once  discovered,  filled  the  Mohawks  with 
rage;  they  rushed  into  the  Dutch  settlement  brandishing  their 
tomahawks,  and  demanding  their  captive.  Van  Curler,  true  to  his 
promise,  held  out ;  but  when  the  Indians  in  their  fury  threatencil 
to  destroy  the  settlement,  the  Dutch  landed  him,  so  as  to  be  ready 
to  give  him  up  if  forced  to  it  at  last,  and  as  he  now  in  his  spirit  of 
sacrifice  implored  them  to  do.  In  the  ship  and  on  shore  he  was 
closely  confined,  and  suft'ered  greatly  from  want  of  air  and  neglect ; 
but  the  Dutch  commander  held  out  manfully :  the  Indians  were  at 
last  appeased  by  presents,  and  then  Jogues  was  conveyed  to  New 
Amsterdam,  now  New^  Yoik ;  and  after  a  most  kind  reception  from 
the  Governor  Kieft  and  Dominie  Megapolensis,  his  constant  bene- 
factor, sailed  to  Europe,  in  November,  1643. 

His  mission  on  the  Mohawk  had  produced  about  seventy  bap- 
tisms, l)esides  manv  confessions.  Even  at  New  York  he  found  two 
Catholics,  and  heard  the  confession  of  one,  an  Irishman,  whom  he 
could  understand. 

Leaving  him  to  pui-sue  his  Avay  across  the  Atlantic,  we  return 
to  the  St.  Lawrence.  In  April,  1G44,  a  Huron  flotilla  was  speed- 
ing westward,  bearing  Father  Francis  Joseph  Bressani,  with  sup- 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


21;^ 


plies  for  the  dcstituto  inissionarii'S.  Tlie  route  was  lined  with 
lro(j[Uois  war-parties,  one  i)f  which  lay  near  Fort  liiehelieii  and 
attaeked  the  Iluroiis  on  Lake  St.  Peter's.  The  latter  were  soon 
(K'teated,  and  Bressaiii,  after  seeing  one  of  his  companions  devoured 
hftbre  his  eyes,  was  hurried  off  with  the  rest  up  the  Sorel  Uiver, 
through  Lake  Champlain,  and  over  the  rough  and  rocky  road  that 
lod  to  the  Mohawk,  like  his  predecessor  Jogues.  When  he  reached 
a  fishing-village  on  the  Upper  Hudson,  his  torture  began.  He  too 
ran  the  gauntlet ;  in  that  fearful  race  he  was  crushed  beneath  their 
blows :  his  liand  was  slit  open  between  the  lingers ;  and  then 
reaching  the  scafl'old,  he  was  handed  over  to  be  caressed,  that  is, 
tortured  in  every  way.  l*ricked,  burnt,  mangled,  be  was  soon  out; 
living  wound.  Several  fingers  were  cut  otl',  his  liands  and  feet 
burnt  and  hacked  twentv-six  times.  Condemned  to  death  bv  a 
unanimous  cry,  he  was  conducted  to  the  fii'st  town  on  the  Mo- 
hawk.  Here  his  left  hand  was  slit  open ;  the  gauntlet  run 
again;  his  hands  and  feet  were  torn  and  mangled;  hims.^lf 
hung  up  by  the  feet  in  chains ;  and  to  crown  all,  when  tied 
down  almost  naked  on  the  ground,  they  laid  food  on  his 
body,  and  set  their  liungry  dogs  upon  it  till  he  was  all  torn  by 
their  teeth.  His  wounds,  never  dressed,  soon  began  to  fill  Avith 
coiTuption  and  worms.  Unable  to  use  his  hands,  he  almost 
perished  of  hunger,  for  ^ew  Avould  give  him  a  morsel.  He 
literally  walked  in  living  death.  ]3ecome  an  object  of  dis- 
gust, he  was  given  to  an  old  woman,  who,  moved  by  compassion, 
sold  him  to  the  Dutch  in  August.  He  was  kindly  treated  by 
them,  and,  like  Jogues,  was  sent  to  Europe  by  Governor  Kieft, 
whose  humanity  in  these  cases  somewhat  redeems  an  otherwis<i 
equivocal  character. 

Duiing  a  residence  of  three  months  among  the  ^fohawks,  the 
only  exercise  cf  Bressani's  ministry  was  the  baptism  of  a  Huron, 
who,  half-roasted  and  shapeless,  asked  it  at  the  stake.  Ht?  was 
unable  to  do  any  thing  for  those  who  were  kept  as  slaves  or  had 


2U 


AMERICAN    CATHOLU^   MISSIONS. 


^ 


*  :■ 


i    < 


! 


been  adopted,  for  all  ^auIln('d  him,  fearful  of  drawing  down  ven- 
geance on  themselves.* 

Soon  after  the  escape  of  Father  Bressani,  the  mind  of  the  M<t- 
liawks  inclined  to  i)eace,  and  the  sachems  sent  their  delegate  to  the 
lodges  of  the  French.  In  July,  1G45,  the  chieftain  Kiotsaoton 
came  to  Three  Hivers,  bearing  seventeen  belts  of  wampum  to  ex- 
press as  many  tVi«'ndly  propositions.  Ho  was  received  with  every 
mark  of  honor,  and  in  a  public  reception  presented  those  Indian 
symbols  to  the  French  governor.  Fathers  Jogues  antl  l^ressaiii, 
victims  of  their  cruelty,  were  both  present  at  the  conference,  fn' 
neither  had  remaine<l  in  Eurojx'  longer  than  necessity  required ; 
too  eager  to  return  to  their  dangerous  mission.  Kiotsaeton  a}K)l- 
ogized  for  the  cruelties  perpetrated  on  them;  and  though  no 
credit  was  given  to  his  assertion  that  the  ^fohawks  never  intended 
to  put  them  to  death,  all  the  French  were  too  rejoiced  at  the 
prospect  of  peace  to  recur  to  the  past,  either  for  vengeance  or  le- 
proacli,  and  the  missionaries  showed  by  their  manner  that  im 
rancor  existed  in  their  hearts. 

Peace  was  now  concluded  ;  the  envoys  departed  for  the  Mohawk 
to  obtain  the  ratification  of  theOyanders,  and  the  Superior  of  tlie 
missions  projected  a  new  mission  among  the  Mohawlcs.  "  AVe 
have  called  it  the  Mission  of  the  Martyrs,"  says  he,  "and  with 
reason,  since  we  found  it  among  the  very  men  who  have  made  tlie 
gospel-laborers  sutler  so  much,  and  among  whom  great  pains  and 
hardships  must  still  be  exiwcted.  Good  Reno  Goupil  has  already 
met  death  in  their  midst;  and,  if  it  be  lawful  to  make  conjectures 
in  things  which  seem  so  probable,  it  is  to  be  believed  that  our 
projects  against  the  empire  of  Satan  will  not  bear  fruit  till  wateroil 
with  the  blood  of  some  other  martyrs." 

To  foimd  it,  he  chose,  with  the  unanimous  consent  of  his  con- 


-   -     -i 

.      t 

f:    1 

f    ( 

, 

*  Ikessani,  Kelation  abrogee,  llG-139  ;  Martin,  Biograpliie  de  Bressani,  i«.l« 
12;  KcL  ir43-i;  Crouxina,  Hist.  Canad.  399. 


FllENX'H    MISSIONS. 


215 


.suitors,  one  wlioiu  the  IIi.'ail  of  tho  Cliurcli  liad  honored,  oven  iu 
lite,  with  tho  title  of  injirtyr ;  for  when  Innocent  XL  wa.s  appHed 
to  for  a  dispensation  to  enable  Father  Jogues  to  celebrate  mass 
with  his  mangled  liands,  lie  granted  it,  exclaiming:  "It  wenj 
unjust  that  a  martyr  of  Christ  should  not  drink  the  blood  of 
Christ." 

Summoned  from  Montreal,  the  fearless  Jogues  prepared  to  set 
out  for  the  Mohawk  with  tho  Sieur  Bourdon,  less  as  a  missionaiy 
lliaii  as  an  ambassador.  lie  even  laid  aside  his  religious  habit, 
fni-  nn  Algonfjuin  chief  urged  it,  saying  :  "  There  is  nothing  more 
Kliulsive  at  first  than  this  doctrine, which  seems  to  exterminate  all 
tlint  men  hold  dearest;  and  since  your  long  gown  preaches  it  as 
Tinich  as  your  lips,  you  had  better  go  in  a  short  coat."  Setting 
out  on  the  IGth  of  May,  1G4G,  amid  a  general  grief  and  public 
iiravoi's  beijun  for  their  safe  return,  tlie  envovs  ascended  the  Sorcl, 
aiiil,  ijliding  amid  the  charming  islands  of  Lake  Champlain,  the 
scciie  of  Jogues'  former  sufferings,  reached  the  portage  of  Lake 
Aiidiatarocte  (now  Lake  George)  on  the  eve  of  Corpus  Chiisti, 
.iinl  named  it  Lac  Saint  Sacrement.*  Floating  down  the 
Hudson,  they  reached  Fort  Orange,  whence,  after  thanking  his 
kind  friends,  Jogues  proceeded  to  the  first  Mohawk  town,  which 
was  now  called  Onewyiure.  Here  the  French  embassy  was 
joyfully  received,  and  the  i)resents,  delivered  in  the  Indian  stylo 
l»y  Father  Jogues,  were  returned  by  an  equal  number.  The 
peace  was   now  ratified,  and   the   missionary,  after  delivering  a 


*  This  is  now  called  Lake  Georfje,  after  one  of  the  worthy  monarchs  of 
tliut  iiuino.  Some  old  map  had  Iloricon  for  Ilirocoi,  and  the  misprint  has 
hoon  iiU'tiunorpljosed  into  a  name  for  the  lake  I  Equally  amusinfr  is  the 
oxpltmation  of  the  name  of  Lac  St.  Saerement  to  be  found  in  many  English 
books,  wiru-h  tell  us  that  the  French  clerjry,  struck  by  the  purity  of  tho 
"titer,  used  it  in  the  sacrament  of  bajitism,  and  hence  called  it  Lake  St. 
SiuTauu'ut,  the  unfortunate  etymoloL'ists  not  bcinj?  aware  that  the  words 
''  r.lossed  Sacrament"  denote  the  Eucharist  and  not  baptism.  Corpus  Christi 
Willi.'  the  foust  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  the  name  given  by  Jogues  was 
finite  natural,  and  traiuslated  means  Lake  of  tho  Blessed  Sacrament. 


216 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


i 

t 

1 

i      ■ 

' 

I 

i. 

■  I 

■; 

t 

1       ■ 

\        V 


present  to  his  own  family,  the  Wolf,*  tinnsmitted  another  to  llie 
sachems  of  Onondaga  hy  some  braves  who  happened  to  be  there, 
in  Older  to  open  to  the  French  the  way  to  their  canton. 

The  Indians  now  pressed  their  departure,  and  they  set  out,  tin- 
missionary  leaving  his  trunk,  as  he  was  soon  to  return ;  for  the 
^Mohawks  had  asked  a  missionary,  and  he  had  been  chosen.  A 
pleasant  voyage  brought  them  in  safety  to  (Quebec.  Their  arrival 
filled  all  with  joy ;  and  after  a  few  days'  repose,  the  missionary  piv- 
pared  to  return  to  the  Mohawk,  when  a  new  obstacle  arose.  liu- 
mors  of  war  and  violence  began  to  spread,  but  before  the  close  of 
September  lie  was  ui'ging  his  canoe,  a.s  the  envoy  of  heaven,  to  the 
centre  of  the  present  Eiupire  State. 

Yet  he  was  not  without  some  presentiment  of  the  closing  seon*'. 
"  Ibo  et  non  redibo,"  are  the  prophetic  words  of  his  last  lctt<.*r : 
"  I  shall  go,  but  I  shall  never  return."  A  number  of  Hurons  boio 
him  company,  but  as  they  approached  the  country  of  the  Mohawks. 
they  gradually  forsook  him.  "  Did  he  hesitate  ?  No  !  A  truo 
missionary,  he  never  quailed  before  the  fear  of  death."  With  one 
faithful  French  companion,  John  Lalande,  he  advanced.  "  I  shall 
be  too  happy,"  he  had  said,  "  if  our  Lord  deign  to  complete  the 
sacrifice  where  he  has  begun  it,  and  make  the  few  drops  of  my 
blood  shed  in  this  land  an  earnest  of  what  I  would  give  him  from 
every  vein  of  my  body  and  heart." 

Onward  they  toiled ;  but  no  sooner  had  they  fallen  in  with  a 
band  of  Mohawks,  than  all  the  worst  anticipations  were  realized. 
A  glance  showed  the  change  in  the  councils  of  the  Iroquois.  Tlic 
braves  were  dressed  and  painted  for  war.  Raising  a  shout  of  joy 
at  the  sight  of  the  missionary,  they  rushed  on  his  little  party, 
stripped  and  bound  them,  and,  elate  with  joy,  turned  homewanl. 
On  the  17th  of  October,  1646,  Father  Jogues  again  entered  Gan- 

•  The  Iroquois  tribes  were  divided  into  three  clans,  the  Turtle,  Wolf,  and 
Bear,  and  some  smaller  ones ;  and  many  curious  regulations  existed  as  to  tho 
descent  and  intermarriage  of  members  of  these  clans  or  families. 


FHEN'OIl    NHSSIONS. 


217 


I 


:liei"  to  the 
r>  be  there. 

iCt  out,  till' 

■u;  for  the 
jhoseii.  A 
lieir  arrival 
sionarv  l)rt'- 
arose.  l^u- 
the  close  of 
aven,  to  the 

losing  scene, 
i  hist  lettei' : 
Hurons  buvo 
le  Mohawks, 
fs  o  !     A  true 
With  ont' 
"  I  shall 
omplete  the 
rops  of  my 
ve  him  from 

n  m  with  a 
ere  realized, 
iquois.  Tlu' 
shout  of  joy      p 

little  party, 

homeward, 
intered  Gan- 

Itle,  Wolf,  fti^^^ 
isted  as  to  tho 
lest. 


dawaufuc,  the  piae<'  of  liis  fonncM'  cnjitivity.  TFe  was  not  trcateil 
as  a  eonuuoii  jdisoner  of  war;  ho  was  to  die  as  a  sorcerer,  for  in 
tluir  superstition  they  attributed  to  his  chest,  witli  its  vestments 
and  (diapel  service,  a  pestilential  fever  tliat  ravaijjed  their  cabins, 
and  the  swarms  of  caterv>illars  that  devoured  their  croi)s.     As  he 


'titered  the  viilaLfe,  blows  with  clubs  and  lists  were  mingled  with 


threats  of  instant  death. 


You  shall  die  to-morrow  I     Fear  not ! 


You  shall  not  be  burned,"  they  cried ;  "  vou  shall  both  <lie  under 
our  hatchets,  a!id  your  heails  shall  be  iixed  on  the  palisade,  that 
your  brethren  may  .see  them,  when  we  bring  them  in  captive." 
In  vain  did  Father  Jogues  endeavor  to  show  them  the  injustice 
of  treatins:  him  as  an  enemv.     Deaf  to  all  reason,  thev  i)etran  the 


liuteherv  by  slicing  oif  the  llesh  from  1 


d  back. 


esn  iroin  ins  arms  and  OacK,  crying: 

11  4k    [ 


Let  us  see  whether  this  white  tlt>sh  is  that  of  an  Otkon. 


am  but  a  man  like  your.^elves,"  rei»lied  tlif  tearless  confessor  of 
Christ,  "  thouirh  I  fear  not  death  nor  your  tortures.  I  know  not 
why  you  put  me  to  death.  I  have  come  to  your  country  to  pre- 
serve peace,  and  strengthen  the  land,  and  to  show  you  the  way  to 
heaven,  and  you  treat  me  like  a  dog.  Dread  the  vengeance  of  the 
Master  of  Life !" 

Although  thus  tortured  his  doom  was  not  sealed.  lie  was  led 
to  a  cabin  of  the  Wolf  tribe,  and  for  a  time  left  to  prepare  for  any 
event.  A  council  of  the  Oyauders  was  called :  the  ])ear  family'  clam- 
ored for  his  blood;  but  the  Wolf  and  Tortoise  opposed  them  firmly, 
and  it  was  resolyod  to  spare  his  life.  It  was  too  late.  AYhile  the 
council  was  sittino"  on  the  nio-ht  of  the  18th,  some  of  the  Bears  came 
to  invite  him  to  sup  with  them;  he  rose  to  follow,  but  scarcely  had 
his  shadow  darkened  the  doors  of  his  perfidious  host  when  an  In- 
dian, concealed  within,  sprang  forward,  and  with  a  single  blow 
stretched  him  lifeless  on  the  sfi'ound.  The  ijenerous  arm  of  Kiotsae- 
ton  was  raised  to  save  him,  but,  though  deeply  wounded,  did  not 
arrest  the  blow.  Father  Isaac  fell  dead ;  his  missionary  toils  were 
ended.     His  companion  shared  his  fate,  and  tlie  rising  sun  beheld 

10 


218 


AMKJtICAN    I'ATilOLlC    MISSIONS. 


tlicir  hcntlfl  fixed  on  tlic  U(»itli»'rn  p.-ilisado,  whil««  their  bodies  wcw. 
tliirii;  into  t!i(!  n('ii,dd)Oiiiio-  stivani.* 

Founder  of  tlio  Moluiwk  mission,  liis  sutlV'rinjijs  ratlior  tlian  his 
hubois,  ii^ive  liini  :i  ]>h'i('e  in  its  annals.  His  letters  arc  his  noMc-t 
nionunicnt ;  in  them  we  JK-hold  his  deep  and  tender  piety,  his  de- 
votion to  our  J.ord,  especially  in  the  sacrament  of  liis  Love,  Ins  lov. 
<»f  the  cross,  Ids  perfect  contidonce  in  the  all-directini;  hand  of  the 
Almii;hty,  his  implicit  obedience,  angelic  purity  and  attachment  t(; 
his  lioly  mother,  the  Cliurch.  Afl'jr  Ids  death  miracles  >vere  at- 
tributed  to  him  and  duly  attested ;  and  the  missionaries,  ^vht^  at 
IX  later  date,  saw  n  fervent  cliurch  arise  at  the  place  of  liis  glorious 
death,  and  those  who  saw  it  produce  that  holy  virgin,  Cathariu.- 
Tegahkwita,  ascribed  these  wonders  of  gi'ace  only  to  his  blood.f 


-  I 


CHATTER    X. 

THE    IROQUOIS    MISSION (CONTINUED.) 

Captivity  of  Fntlicr  Poncot — Proposftis  of  peace — Treaty  concluded — Le  Moync  visits 
Onondajia — Mission  projected — Fatlier  (.'htiniiionot  and  Patlier  Dal>lon  are  sent — Their 
nis.'^ion  at  Onondaga— Its  success— Jealousj'  of  lO  Indians — Dablon  returns— Lo 
Moync  on  the  Moliawk — His  dangers  and  his  toils. 

On  the  death  of  Father  Jogues  the  w.ir  bi'oke  out  anew,  and  tlic 
Mohawk  and  his  kindled  clans,  almost  Avithout  opposition,  devas- 
tated on  every  side :  the  Huron  nation  was,  as  we  have  seen,  de- 
stroyed or  dispersed  ;  the  Tionontates  shared  their  fate ;  the  Atti- 
wandaronk  were  anniliilated  or  absorbed.     Upper  Canada  was  a 

*  This  is  commonly  supposed  to  be  the  Mohawk,  but  it  is  more  likely 
Canghnawaga  creek,  on  which  the  village  lay;  the  river  being  at  some  dis- 
tance, according  to  Father  Jogues'  account  of  Goupil's  death. 

t  Jogues'  Letters,  New  York  Hist.  Coll.  II.  iii. ;  Alcgambe,  Mortes  Illustre?, 
p.  G16  ;  Tanner,  Societas  Militans,  p.  511 ;  Memoires  sur  Ics  Vortus,  &c.  MS.; 
Buteux,  Narre  de  la  Prise  de  Perc  Jogues,  MS. ;  Crenxius,  Ilisloria  Cana- 
densis, p.  460-500  ;  Relati(n\s,  1642-3-6-7.  For  filftch,  ate  appendix. 


KIIKXCH    MISSIONS. 


21!) 


deport,  niul  aloiiLf  tlic  Ottawa  ami  St.  Lawivtioo  tlic  <l\viiitllt'i|,  tl-ar- 
t"iil  l)aiwls  of  Al^-oiJuiiiii.s  showed  their  hisses  in  the  striiLTi^df.  Tho 
ImvdcIi  liad  ii(»t  l)et'ii  sparetl,  their  missionaries  liatl  fallen  witii  tiieir 


tawny 


conveils,  and,  in   ]i>')'.],  nn'erso  after  reverse  dinnnt'tl  tht 


<;li)ry  of  Franci',  and  h»•i^•ht«'nell  the  holdness  of  tiie  all-eunnncrini^ 
h(Mjiiois.  (^nehec  was  htdt'a<;nere(l ;  men  (hirst  not  jl;o  fortii  to 
n  an  the  yellow  harvest,  an<l  want  bei^an  to  stare  all  in  the  face. 
A  poor  widow  monrned  over  the  ]>rosjM,'('t.  Toncdied  I>y  her  deso- 
lat*'  sitnation,  Kath(M'  Joseph  Anthony  I'oncet,  with  a  few  whom 
his  devotedness  drew  aroniid  him,  went  forth  to  ijather  in  iier  har- 
vest. Tho  aml)Ush«Ml  iroqnois  fell  upon  them  ;  ]^)ncet  and  one 
)inpanion  were  taken,  and,  thone-h  hotly  ]»ursue<l  by  his  lloek, 
ere  hurried  ott"  to  the  Mohawk.  Treadin<,'  tin;  path  opened  by 
J<)i;ues  and  Uressani,  he  twice  ran  the  li^anntlet,  Avas  tortured  and 


(•( 


w 


rletl,  and  led  th 


inaiii^led,  and  led  throui^h  all  their  villages. 

Tli(!  Mohawks,  liowover,  were  weary  of  war,  and,  to  obtain  peace, 
restored  Ktlier  Voncet :  vet  he  did  not  return  before  visitiiiir  the 
Dutch  at  Fort  Oranije  and  hearin<j:  the  confessions  of  some  Catlio- 
lii's  there.* 

The  Onondagas  had  already  aske<l  for  peace,  and  bad  even  in- 
vited missionaries  to  settle  in  their  land,  and  teach  them  as  the 


*  Father  Joseph  Anthony  Poncet  dc  la  Kiviero  was  ono  of  the  most  emi- 
nent Jesuits  of  liis  time,  and  illustrious  in  life,  and,  after  death,  for  sanetity. 
He  was  a  Parisian;  studied  at  Kome,  and  came  to  Canada  with  Chaunionot, 
as  we  have  seen.  Besides  },'aininj,'  Cliaumonot  to  the  mission,  ho  waij  in- 
strumental in  brinLfinf;;  Mother  Mary  of  tho  Incarnation,  and  was  the  first 
priest  at  Montreal.  lie  was,  at  two  ditferent  times,  in  the  Huron  country, 
for  a  period  of  six  years.  Lonij  cure  of  Quebec,  he  was  the  idol  of  his  flock. 
^  ii-Minrf  his  post  to  the  aspiring  Abbe  do  Queylus,  ho  was  sent  to  Onondaga 
ill  li"i.")7,  but  recalled,  and  returned  to  France.  After  being  in  Brittany  for  a 
tune,  devotion  led  him  to  Lorettc,  where  he  was  Penitentiary  of  the  French  ; 
but  still  full  of  missionary  zeal,  was  sent  to  Martinique,  and  died  there  Juno 
1'^,  IG""),  in  the  65th  year  of  his  age,  and  the  45th  of  his  religious  career.  See 
(."iiiuiipion.  Vie  du  Pore  Klgoleu,  p.  87 ;  Monologe  de  laCompagnie  do  Jesus; 
an<l,  for  his  captivity,  Kcl.  1652-3. 


it« 


220 


AMKKIOAN    t'ATIIuLIf    MISSIONS. 


i 


!i        ! 


,•}• 


lluroiis  liad  Ixcii  tniiLJjlit.  Motives  of  jioliry,  imlrcil,  Icil  tlio  wcsti-rii 
(•iiiitoiis  to  this  step,  for  tiu'V  NViTo  How  <'iii;-;iij;t'(l  in  a  (l»*a«lly  war 
witii  tiio  Kiius,  tho  last  western  trilie  of  tiieir  stoek,  wliicli  li.nl 
favored  tlio  Ilurons.* 

In  tile  coiit'crciices  wliieli  took  i)]aee,  Fatlwr  Simon  Lc  ^^^y^^', 
an  old  llnron  missionary,  wlio  on  tlio  death  of  lather  .logut-s  hail 
laid  aside  his  name  of  Wane  to  take  that  of  Ondcssonk,  home  hv 
the  murden'd  .Icsnit,  was  tho  interpretiu'  lu'tweeu  the  French  aii<l 
Iro(^uois.f  TIm!  latt<'r  were  won  by  his  manner,  and  both  Mohawk 
and  Onondaira  envoys  were  earnest  in  their  ctitreaties  to  be  allowt d 
to  bear  him  to  their  lodo'cs.  The  Onondaifas  were  gratitied  ;  i>iii 
the  Mohawks  had  tho  promise  of  a  s2)eedy  visit. 

Thns  strauii^cly  had  tho  prospect  altered.  'J'he  whole  country 
seemed  open  to  the  ijjospel.  Still  umlcterred  by  failur*',  the  Jesuits 
were  eaijer  to  rush  to  the  conversion  of  the  tribes  which  had 
slaujjfhtered  their  llunni  n('o[»hytes,  and  massacred,  with  ficiidi-h 
hate,  their  holiest  missionaries.  Aifain  an  Inxjuois  mission  wa^ 
projected.  On  the  2d  of  July,  1G53,  Lo  ^Foyne  set  out  from  (^m- 
bee,  and,  toiling  beyond  Montival,  iirst  passed  through  the  rapiil 
river  to  the  lake  beyond,  opening  like  a  sea  across  the  Thousand 
Isles.  (Jliding  through  these  islands,  whence  startled  moosi'  in 
crowds  plunged  into  the  stream,  and  coasting  along  tlie  soutlKiii 
shore,  he  at  last  reached  the  mouth  of  tho  Oswego.  Here,  at  a 
fishing  village,  his  mission  began  :  captive  Ilurons  required  his  ser- 
vices, and  at  every  step  familiar  faces  gladdened  to  behold  tho 


*  The  Erics  Imvo  fjivcn  name  to  their  lake,  but  have  dlsappcarctl  ns  ii 
triho  ;  luiiny  were  adopteil  into  tlie  Iroquois  tribes,  and  some,  })rob:il)ly,  tlel 
south  to  kindred  nations.  Tiieir  cliief  town  was  Geutaicnton. — Ciiauciutiiri', 
Vie  do  Catluirine  Teligaldvwita. 

t  Tliis  custom  was  called  llesnrrcction,  and  was  constantly  used.  Tliii> 
Ciiaumonot  succeeded  to  llrebeuf's  name  of  Kclion.  Tlie  names  of  the  lir-.t 
missionaries  became  inherent  in  the  class.  At  tho  prcseiit  day,  Mr.  M;ii\"U.\, 
of  Sault  St.  Louis,  bears  the  name  Tharonhiakanere,  tho  title  of  Milet  two' 
cenl  uries  ago. 


FHKXCII    MISSIONS. 


221 


Iv  usimI.    Th"^ 

fnoA  of  till!  lir^t 

Mr.  Murcoux, 

le  of  Milot  two 


l>l;ifk-n"o\vii,  Nvli(»  liatl  so  (it'tcii,  ill  tlic'ir  ii.itiv  low  lis,  amioiiiuTtl  tlio 
wuiil  ot"  ( Jod.  J^oim"  siiii'i' an  adupti'il  Indian,  !.»•  ,N'i>vni'  i'iit«'ii'<l 
tli.'  town  ot' <  MioiidaLifa,  in  accoidaiK'''  wiili  tin*  (•ii-«l«iiii  of  ijic  red- 
man,  iK'i^inniiii;,  a  iiiilo  hrt'orc  In-  rcarlu-d  ii,  a  liaraii;j^ur,  in  wliich 
111'  t'liuniuratt'd  tln'ir  saclifiiis  and  their  cliict's,  and  rt'coiintcd  flio 
glories  of  each. 

iii'Ci'ivc'd  with  all  poiii]),  li«!  pi('j)aivd  lor  the  solciiin  rccop- 
tion,  uliero  he  delivered  tiie  presents  of  the  Frencii  governor,  ex- 
horted them  to  peace,  and,  above  all,  to  receive  the  faith  of  which 
lit'  was  the  envoy.  Jlis  presents  were  accepted,  and  the  saeheiiis 
of  OnoiidaL'a,  hy  their  helts  of  wainpiiiii,  invited  the  Freneii  to 
hiiild  a  lioiiso  on  Lake  <  )ntario.  His  duties  as  ambassador  ended, 
his  duties  as  missionary  l)e<i;an.  Xaiiu;ht  now  remained  but  to 
I'diisoJe   the    captiv(^    Jlurons,  and    confer   on    them   the    Iiajipi- 


llt'SS 


they  had  so  Ioiilt  cov«'ted  of  beinu;  washed  in  the  waters  of 
I't'iiaiice.  On  all  sides,  too,  lie  found  children  to  bai)tize,  and  even 
iidiilts,  instructed  l)y  the  piety  of  tlie  llurons,  of  wliom  no  less  than 
a  thousand  were  hero  captive.  Amoni;  others,  he  bai)ti/ed,  on  the 
eve  of  liis  departure,  a  cliief  setting  out  against  the  Eries.  In  vain 
the  prudent  missionary  st)Uglit  to  defer  liis  baptism  to  his  next 
visit.  "  All !  brother,"  exclaimed  tlie  cliief,  "  if  I  liave  the  faith, 
call  1  not  be  a  Christian  to-day  i  Art  thou  master  of  death  to 
nivveiii  "cs  strikinir  mo  without  thy  order  ?  Will  the  .shafts  of  the 
fi»e  In;  blunted  for  mo?  ^^ust  I,  at  every  ste})  in  battle,  dread  liell 
lather  than  death  ?  Unless  thou  baptize  me  I  shall  bo  without 
•  ••niiage,  and  I  shall  not  davo  to  meet  the  blows.  l>aptize  me,  for  I 
will  obey  thee,  and  give  thee  my  word  to  live  and  die  a  Christian." 
!^U('li  an  entreaty  Le  Moyne  could  not  re.si.st,  and  finding  the 
eliieftain  already  posse.s.sed  of  the  tmths  necessary  for  salvation,  he 
instructed  him  more  fully  and  baptized  him  by  the  name  of  John 
I'aptist,  and  the  next  day  each  set  out  on  his  diti'erent  career. 

Stopping  in  the  half-dried  basin  of  OnoiKhiga  Lake  to  taste  the 
salt-springs,  although  the  Indians  told  him  that  a  devil  lurked  in 


'M 


222 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


■ 

» 

' 

1 

1 

it,  Father  Le  Moyiio  proceeded  to  Quebec,  wliicli  lie  reached  on  the 
nth  of  September  to  the  joy  of  tlie  pent-up  settlers,  who  now,  at 
least,  believed  the  peace  to  be  real  and  sincere.  Passing  from  on.- 
extreme  to  the  other,  they  revelled  in  gladness,  and  the  colonization 
of  Onondaga  became  a  matter  of  daily  discussion. 

Men  were  eager  to  be  the  pioneers  of  the  new  settlement,  and 
anxiously  awaited  the  next  embassy  from  Onondaga.  At  last,  in 
the  following  summer,  John  Baptist  arrived  scathless  from  tli*- 
Erie  war,  bearing  his  numerous  presents,  to  ask  again  fur  a  French 
colony  and  aid  in  the  Erie  war,  and  otler  the  Black-gowns  the 
most  delightful  site  in  their  canton  at  Onondaga,  promising  to 
alleviate  the  hardships  of  the  way. 

No  doubt  now  remained.  The  missionaries  instantly  prepared. 
Father  Keno  Menard  and  Father  Claude  Dablon  had  been  chosen 
by  tlie  Superior  to  be  the  first  to  sit  beneath  the  tree  of  peace 
thus  j)lanted,  <and  "which  towered  so  high  above  all  the  trees  of 
the  forest,  that  nations  might  see  it  from  afar ;"  but  Menard  was 
supplanted  by  the  enthusiastic  Chaumonot,  who,  ablest  linguist  of 
his  body,  had.  acted  Jis  interpreter,  and  attracted  the  attention  nf 
the  governor  and  the  envoys. 

On  the  lOtli  of  September  the  chiefs  end>aiked  with  the  mis- 
sionaries, who  set  out  amid  nmch  anxiety,  for  men's  minds  were 
not  without  their  misgivings.  Scarce  out  of  sight  of  Quebec,  the 
Fathers  began  their  mission  by  instructing  the  wife  of  John  Baji- 
tist,  who  could  not  brook  delav.  Six  other  Ononda^as  and  two 
Senecas  joined  their  entreaties  to  hers,  and  so  their  morning  and 
Evening  prayers  were  chanted  on  the  majestic  river  by  the  v«>ioos 
of  nineteen  Christians,  in  fact  or  liope,  the  first-fruits  of  the  Iro- 
quois. Not  to  be  deprived  of  public  woi'ship,  they  lande<l  <'ii 
Sundays,  raised  a  rustic  bower,  and  beneath  it  the  missionaiv  <>i 
the  wilderness,  with  wine  pressed  from  the  wild  grape  of  "ur 
woods,  ofiered  up  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  mass. 

]^y  the  29th  of  September — the  anniversary  of  (ioupil's  deaiii 


FREXCJI   MISSIONS. 


228 


— tlio  missionaries  lamled  at  the  mouth  of  the  Otihatangue,  tlie 
iiK^dLTii  Oswogo.  Hero  Father  Chaumonot  was  at  ouco  sur- 
rounded by  the  llurons  among  whom  he  had  so  long  hibored. 
A  cry  of  joy  burst  from  every  lip,  as  they  shouted  the  name  of 
thi'ir  beloved  Eelion.  They  foil  upon  his  neck,  they  clasped  his 
kiit'cs  thev  bogged  him  to  visit  their  hui-.  While  awaiting  their 
imbHc  reception,  the  missionaries  assemble<l  the  Cin-istians,  or- 
i^'anized  morning  and  evening  prayer,  spen<ling  the  night  in  the 
cuufessional,  to  satisfv  those  who  thronged  around  them  with  all 
llie  eagerness  which  a  Catholic  feels  after  being  long  deprived  of 
llie  greatest  gift  accorded  to  the  Cliurch.  A  dejected  group 
stood  near, — pagans  who,  in  their  day  of  prosperity,  had  spurned 
tile  ]]laek-gown  and  his  teachings,  but  now,  bowed  by  the  heavy 
hand  of  misfortune,  came  to  solicit  instruction. 

After  a  short  delay,  the  missionaries  proceeded  to  Onondaga. 
Tluee  miles  from  the  town  thev  were  met  and  addressed  bv  Go- 
iiaterezon,  one  of  the  principal  orators  ;  another  invited  them  to  a 
l»aii(|uet,  and,  in  a  long  harangue,  exulted  that  the  sun  was  then 
to  shine  in  its  fulness  on  the  land.  All  these  Chaumonot  an- 
swered in  Huron,  with  such  ease  and  elegance  that  they  were 
lajiturous  in  their  applause.  Then,  witli  much  pomp,  tiiey  were 
It'll  through  the  eager  crowd  to  the  loilge  j)repared  for  them. 
Dining  the  night  sachems  came  to  present  belts  of  wampum,  and 
Father  Chaumonot  replied  to  them  on  behalf  of  Onontio,  \kn}. 
(jovernor-general,  and  Achiendase,  the  Superior  of  the  mission.* 

On  Sunday  another  secret  meeting  was  held  to  treat  of  further 
[•"lilts,  after  which  some  lingered  to  ask  about  France,  her  govern- 
ment, and  laws.  Chaumonot  seized  the  opportunity,  and,  telling 
what  she  once  had  been,  led  them  to  the  history  of  the  Ikcdemp- 
tioii.     Begged  to  continue,  he  so  beautifully  narrated  the  Creation 


.  *  r.ither  Francis  Joseph  Lo  Mcrcicr.    Tlie  name  wns  given  originally  to 
Father  Jeromo  Lalomant  when  Superior. 


224 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


\i  n 


I   1 


I! 


1^       I 


and  chief  events  in  sacred  histoi y,  that  three  of  liis  hearers  ranged 
themselves  beside  him  as  catechumens. 

After  receiving  deputies  from  Onei(hi,  tlie  missionaries  ■were 
conducted  on  the  lltli  of  November  by  a  vast  concourse  to  tiie 
site  proposed  for  tlie  mission-house.  For  beauty  and  convenience, 
no  position  could  surpass  this  beautiful  spot.  Lake  Ganentaa,  thf 
Onondaga  of  our  day,  stretches  before  it,  oft'ering  an  outlet  to  th*' 
lak(!  above,  while  the  rivers  that  swell  its  watei's  come  from  the 
villages  of  the  allied  tril)cs.  A  stream  of  pure  water  and  anotlur 
of  salt  gushed  from  a  neighboring  knoll :  the  rising  ground  of  the 
mission  was  encircled  like  the  lake  by  woods,  which  in  that  season 
seemed  to  rival  the  vegetation  of  the  tropics,  and  abounded  in 
game,  while  the  waters  teemed  with  fish.  Here,  amid  the  joyous 
crowd,  Chaumonot  began  the  mission  by  bai)tizing  a  poor  Erie 
captive,  whom  a  band  were  leading  to  the  stake. 

The  15th  of  November  Avas  appointed  for  the  solemn  recejHion 
of  the  envoys.^  After  spending  the  eve  in  prayer  and  supplication, 
the  Christian  orator  entered  the  council  of  the  sachems  of  Onon- 
daga. Calling  their  attention  to  the  impta'tance  of  the  council, 
greater  than  Onondaga  liad  ever  yet  witnessed,  since  now  tluy 
were  to  discuss,  not  peace  or  war,  not  things  of  earth  and  time, 
but  of  eternity,  he  unfoldeJ  his  symbolic  presents,  and  explained 
them  in  the  Indian  style.  The  main  object  of  his  address  was  to 
set^orth  the  Christian  doctrine,  and  refute  the  slanders  and  calum- 
nies raised  against  it  by  piigan  Wyandots.  With  such  force  and 
beauty  did  he  speak,  that  Dablon,  his  companion,  enrapture(i, 
seemed  to  hear  the  gospel  preached  to  that  whole  benighted  land ; 
and  that  day  of  glory  was  in  his  eyes  a  triumph  tor  the  faith 
worth  all  the  toil  and  sufi'ering  its  publication  had  hitherto  cost. 

On  the  following  day,  when  the  presents  were  returned,  a  new 
scene  of  interest  occurred.  The  air  resounded  with  the  ch:uits  of 
the  chiefs.  "Happy  land  I"  they  cried,  "hapjiy  land,  in  which 
the  French  are  to  dwell  I"  ami  amid  the  continual  response,  "Glad 


FliKNCU  MISSIONS. 


tidiiiffs !  iflaJ  tidinofs !"  raised  on  every  side,  tlie  missionaries  ad- 
vanced  to  the  eouiieil-lodi^e.  There  all  was  silent,  till  the  leader 
i)t'  the  cliorus  broke  forth — "  1  sing  from  the  heart ;  we  speak  to 
thee,  brother,  from  the  heart ;  our  friendly  words  are  from  the 
heart.  Uail,  brother  !  happy  be  thy  coming,  glad  thy  voice  I"  At 
t  ;u'h  pause  all  joined  in  chorus,  echoing  the  response — "  Farewell 
war !  faiewell  the  hatchet !  Till  now  we  have  been  mad ;  now 
we  shall  be  brothers  !" 

An  orator*  then  arose  and  delivered  the  presents  of  the  canton, 
('Xi)lainiug  the  purport  of  each,  and  otfering  the  wliole  tribe  as 
candidates  for  enrolment  in  the  church.  "Brother,"  he  exclaimed, 
addressing  the  missionary — '•  brother,  let  no  labor  deter  thee  :  go, 
even  if  it  weary  thee,  go  on  to  instruct  us — visit  our  cabins — for- 
sake us  not,  if  you  find  us  slow  in  undei'standing  the  prayer; 
l)lant  it  deeply  in  our  minds  and  hearts."  With  these  words,  lie 
clas})ed  i  ^x     i^rionary  in  his  arms,  to  show  the  sincerity  of  the  tribe. 

This  CO.' n  '  stabhshed  Christianity  at  Onondaga,  the  capital 
of  the  nation.  Henceforth  the  missionaries  might  freely  preach  it 
by  the  great  council-fire  of  the  allied  cantons ;  and  even  then 
Cayuga  and  Oneida,  by  their  deputies,  invited  the  envoys  of  Christ 
to  their  cantons. 

This  happy  result  was  due  in  no  small  degree  to  the  fervor  of 
Le  Moyne's  fii-st  convert.  Inspired  by  his  zeal,  the  braves,  in  a 
recent  battle,  when  suiTounded  by  the  Eries,  had  invoked  the 
God  of  the  Christians,  and  vowed  to  embrace  the  faith  if  victory 
were  granted.  The  tide  of  battle  changed,  and  the  thousand 
braves  of  Onondaga  drove  an  Erie  force  which  quadrupled  theirs 
from  a  strong  post,  and  won  the  day.  C)f  these  triumphant  war- 
rioi-8,  many  were  now  ready  to  fulfil  their  vow,  though  some 
yielded  to  a  false  and  fatal  shame. 

*  Tliese  orators  were  an  express  class — neither  eliiefs  nor  suchems ;  but 
ns  tlie  distinctions  are  not  ahvays  observed  in  the  old  books,  it  is  not  always 
possible  to  apply  the  correct  term. 

10* 


k    -    * 


226 


AMFRICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


fri 


!  ■■ 


5 


I  r    I 


Chaunioiiot's  fii'st  acUlross  hud  drawn  several  women  to  desire 
the  faith;  braves  sought  instruetiuii ;  and  a  chapel  was  n(»\v 
needed.  On  the  18tii  of  November,  the  anniversary  of  the  dedi- 
i^ation  of  the  noblest  temple  ever  raised  to  honor  the  Most  lliiih, 
Fathers  Peter  Joseph  Mary  Cliaumonot  and  Claudius  Dabluii 
raised  the  lirst  Catholic  chapel  in  the  present  State  of  New  York. 
As  soon  as  the  ground  was  pointed  out,  the  chapel  rose  beneath 
the  l)usy  liaiids  of  the  fervent  warriors.  Kude  and  plain  was 
this  fii-st  shrine.  "  For  marbles  and  precious  stones,"  says 
Dablon,  "we  had  but  bark;  but  the  path  to  heaven  is  as  ojt^n 
'through  a  roof  of  bark  as  through  fretted  ceilings  of  silver  and 


gold." 


The  chapel,  with  its  towering  cross,  was  a  constant  call  to  bap- 
tism, and  hither  mothers  eagerly  brought  their  new-born  babos. 
Every  cabin  was  opeji  to  the  missionaries.  Here  none  of  the  ]>ri'- 
judices  of  Huronia  appeared ;  and  as  in  several  cases  pei-sons  in 
danger  of  death  roso  in  health  after  baptism,  it  was  looked  upon 
as  a  blessing.  The  classes  for  instruction  were  soon  organized. 
The  children  of  the  Hurons,  already  trained  by  their  parents  in 
the  faith,  were  more  thoroughly  taught,  and  the  missionaries 
scarce  found  ti.nie  for  their  own  devotions.  Their  chapel  was  soon 
too  small,  and  on  Sundays  and  holidays  they  assembled  in  the 
cabins  of  the  most  eminent  men,  who  eagerly  sought  the  liouor. 
And  there  the  choir  of  Indian  girls,  taught  by  Dablon,  chanted  to 
his  instrumental  music  the  jiraises  of  God.  Conversions  went 
steadily  on  among  the  adults,  and  especially  among  the  female 
portion,  whose  attachment  to  the  faith  was  unbounded,  after  the 
elder  missionaiy  had,  in  a  solemn  assembly,  proclaimed  the  dig- 
nity of  woman,  and  the  high  prerogative  of  the  sacrament  of  ma- 
trimony. 

The  only  danger  to  which  the  missionaries  were  exposed  was  at 
the  time  of  the  Ilonnonouaroria,  a  kind  of  Saturnalia  which  took 
place  every  March,  and  in  which,  in  obedience  to  their  dreams, 


i 


FllENClI   MISSIONS. 


227 


the  TiKlifans  committed  every  extravngaiu'e.*  One  of  the  mission- 
aries had  well-nigli  fallen  a  victim  to  the  superstition,  as  one 
luave  dreamed  that  he  Iiad  killed  a  Frenchman,  and  actiiallv 
rushed  to  their  cabin  to  make  it  a  realitv ;  but  the  Fathers  had 
prudently  withdrawn,  and  the  maniac  was  a}>peased  by  a  Kuro- 
|M'an  dress,  on  which  he  wreaked  liis  fury :  a  strange  substitution, 
yet  often  to  be  met  witli  in  the  annals  of  the  time,  and  apparently 
connected  with  the  idea  of  sacrifice. 

This  period  of  prosperity  was  too  beautit'ul  to  last.  The  enemy 
soon  raised  up  calumnies.  Suspicions  about  baptism  began  to 
U'ain  ground ;  and  though  Chaumonot,  as  the  representative  of 
France,  had  adopted  the  Cayugas  and  Oneidas  in  a  great  council, 
yot  the  sachems  constantly  deferred  sending  messengers  to  Que- 
bec ;  and  on  a  rumor  of  the  arrest  of  some  Onondag«as  at  that  city, 
the  two  missionaries  were  summoned  to  a  council,  and  accused  of 
treachery.  After  a  vain  endeavor  to  allay  their  suspicions,  the 
foarless  Chaumonot  oftered  that  one  of  the  two  should  go  to  Que- 
l)oc  to  bring  a  faithful  report  of  all,  leaving  the  otlier  a  hostage  in 
tlit'ir  hands.  Dablon,  less  skilled  in  Indian  manners,  was  ac- 
cordingly chosen  to  go,  and  on  the  30th  of  Marcli,  after  a  four- 
weeks'  voyage,  stood  in  the  council-hall  of  Quebec,  urging  an  im- 
mediate colony  for  Onondaga.f 

While  Chaumonot  and  Dablon  were  thus  evangelizing  Onon- 
daga, and  opening  the  way  to  Oneida  and  Cayuga,  the  Mohawk 
was  not  neglected.  That  tribe  did  not  conceal  its  indignation  at 
the  intercourse  between  the  French  and  the  western  cantons,  un- 
pardonable in  their  eyes,  since,  in  "the  comjJete  cabin,"J  they 


\ 


*  For  an  account  of  this  festival,  sco  Charlevoix,  Hist,  de  la  NouvcUe 
France,  vi,  82.  See  Lafltau,  Moeurs  dcs  Sauvages,  ii.  78  ;  Morgan,  League  of 
the  Iroquois,  207. 

t  Crcuxius,  Hist.  Canadensis ;  Eel.  1655-6;  Chaumonot,  Autobiotrrapliio. 

\  Hotinnunsioniii,  meaning  "the  complete  cabin,''  or,  more  i)ropcrly, 
"  those  who  form  a  cabin,"  was  the  name  affected  by  the  Five  Nations.     It 


228 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


t 


■ 


i  i^ 


were  the  door.  They  woic  at  lust  appeased  by  a  }»roiiiiso  thai 
Father  Le  Movne  should  visit  them,  lie  aceordiufflv  set  out 
from  Montreal  on  the  10th  of  August,  1055,  Avith  two  Frenchmt  ii 
and  twelve  Mohawks,  and,  after  a  month's  travel,  reaehed  the  liist 
village,  where  he  was  received  with  every  mark  of  esteem.  In 
his  address  to  the  sachems,  while  delivering  the  presents,  he  an- 
nounced the  faith,  invoking  the  vengeance  of  heaven  on  his  lieatl, 
if  his  words  were  false. 

As  it  was  not  proposed  to  found  a  regular  mission  yet,  he  at 
once  began  his  labors  among  the  Huron  captives,  confessing  them, 
and  baptizing  their  children.  He  then  made  a  hurried  visit  to 
Fort  Orange  and  New  Amsterdam,  and  at  the  latter  found  objects 
for  his  ministry  in  llio  crew  of  two  French  vessels  then  in  jwrt. 

Returning  to  the  Mohawk,  he  narrowly  escaped  death ;  and 
finding  the  sachems  uneasy  at  his  presence,  set  out  in  November 
for  Montreal,  and  reached  it  after  great  danger.* 


CHAPTER   XI. 


OUR     LADY     OF     GANENTAA 


Mission  at  Onondaga — A  French  colony — House  and  chapel  erected  at  St.  Mary's  of 
Ganenlaa— Spread  of  the  faitii — Missions  amonsr  the  Oneidas,  Cayugas,  and  Senocas— 
Kcinforcement  of  apostolic  laborers — Hopes  of  ultiiiiato  success  in  converting  the 
cantons — Sudden  plot — Overthrow  of  the  missions — "Wonderful  escape  of  the  Fathers. 


i^l 


When  Dablon,  half-hostage,  half-envoy,  reached  Quebec,  all 
his  enthusiasm  and  intrepidity  could  not  give  firmness  to  the  fluc- 
tuating counsels  of  the  colony.     A  settlement  at  Onondaga  had 

is  an  error  to  translate  it  "Cabin-makers,"  as  some  have  done.     See  Brnyas. 
Racines  A^nieres. 
*  Rel.  1655-6.  » 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


229 


ken  promised;  a  settlemont  «»r  a  war  scenietl  iiicvitaMe  ;  yet  tlio 
recent  troaclierv  of  the  Mohawk,  tlie  erueltv  ut'  tlie  western  ean- 
tons  to  tlie  Ilurons  an<l  their  missionaries,  the  eonvictiun  of  tlie 
.survivors  of  that  nation  that  the  present  invitation  was  part  of  a 
<lt'('p-lai(l  seheme, — all  (let<.'i're(l  tin*  Fiencii  from  niKleitakiiijj^  to 
(olonizt!  tlu?  valley  of  the  Dswesfo.  Vet  Canada  was  too  weak  to 
hear  a  new  wai',  and  <'i  few  individuals  must  l)e  exposed  for  the 
common  safety.  The  missionaries  were  not  men  wIkj  held  lite 
dear,  and  thov  eaijferlv  offered  to  ffo.  rrej>ai. '  us  were  accord- 
iiiifly  made:  a  numl)er  of  French  (-olonists  were  e«pii])|X'd,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Dupuis.  The  Superior  of  the  mission, 
Father  Francis  Lc  Mercier,  laid  down  his  olKce,  without  awaitino; 
the  close  of  liis  term,  in  order  to  lead  the  new  band  of  mission- 
aries in  pei"son,  and  with  Fathers  Rene  Menard,  Claude  Uahlon, 
and  Brothel's  Ambrose  Jhoar  and  Joseph  Bouisier,  ])repared  to 
establish  Chnstianitv  amid  the  lakes  of  Western  New  York. 

They  left  Quebec  on  the  iTtli  of  May,  105G.  Uurons,  Onon- 
(lai^as,  and  Senecas  completed  the  party ;  for  the  Senecas  also  had 
sent  for  missionaries.  'I'hough  attacked  by  the  jealous  Mohawks, 
the  fleet  of  canoes  moved  joyfully  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  with  their 
roval  banner  floatino:  in  the  breeze — the  banner  of  the  Kinff  of 
kings,  bearinn^  his  august  name  sparkling  in  the  glad  sunshine. 
On  the  shore  stood  a  motley  group  of  savage  and  civilized 
friends,  Avhose  anxious  looks  showed  their  sense  of  the  danger  of 
the  party,  and  whose  ]>rayei's  rose  to  Heaven  for  its  safety. 

The  early  part  of  the  voyage  was  pleasant.  Game  was  abun- 
dant :  the  stately  moose  supplied  their  larder.  But  they  at  last 
ran  out  of  provisions,  and  many  fell  sick.  They  accordingly 
pu'ihed  on,  night  and  day,  and  on  the  Vth  of  July  the  main  body 
reached  the  mouth  of  the  Oswego.  After  an  inetfectual  attempt 
to  ascend  its  rapid  current,  they  were  cheered  by  the  approach  of 
a  canoe  loaded  with  corn  and  fish,  A  few  days  later  their  canoes, 
iniid  the  thunders  of  artillery  echoing  over  the  waters  and  through 


230 


AMERICAN   CA'J'HOLIC   MISSIONS. 


h  I 


i   if 


f  I 


i  { 


}§ 


i  * 


1 
i 

1 

TH'- 

i 

tlie  woods  which  cnciro'.od  the  lake,  readied  the  spot  .seleeted  for 
their  abode. 

After  tlie  i>rehmiiiaiy  I'eception,  and  a  lew  days  of  repose,  tlio 
inishionaries  blessed  tlie  ground,  and  J  >iipuis  and  his  men  began 
the  fort  and  house  on  the  eminence.  Father  Le  Mercier  mean- 
while proceeded  to  Ononihiga,  about  live  leagues  distant,  and  was 
received  with  all  possible  honor.  From  every  quarter  deputies 
came  to  wait  upon  .Achiendase,  and  ask  that  his  mat  should  be 
the  council-hall.  The  treacherous  Mohawk  came  with  slanders, 
I»ut  was  promptly  refuted ;  and,  as  alVairs  stood,  lie  durst  not 
sliow  hostility,  for  tlie  western  cantons  were  ivadv  for  war,  to 
avenge  the  deatli  of  a  Seneca  chief  murdered  by  the  Mohawks. 

All  were  interested  to  prevent  a  lupture.  ])e})uties  from  all 
the  cantons  came  in  to  sit  aroimd  the  council-lire  of  Onondaga ; 
and  liither  too  came  Chaumonot,  bearing  rich  presents  for  the 
tribe,  as  words  from  the  French,  llurons,  and  Algonquins.  In- 
voking tlie  guidance  of  Heaven  by  clianting  the  "  Veni  Cueatoh," 
lie  unfolded  and  explained  the  presents  with  all  the  art  of  an 
Indian  orator.  "As  Onondaga,"  he  said,  "  was  the  principal  can- 
ton, and  her  sachem,  Agochiendaguete,*  the  greatest  man  in  the 
whole  country,  Achiendase  came  to  him,  as  the  mouth  of  Onontio, 
to  raise  tlie  ruined  cabin,  resuscitate  the  dead,  maintain  what  was 
still  standing,  and  defend  the  country  against  the  disturbers  uf 
the  peace." 

Encouraged  by  the  applause  bestowed  on  his  eloquence  and 
skill  in  the  Onondaga,  which  he  now  spoke,f  Chaumonot  raised 
his  last  present,  that  of  the  faith  :  "  Not  for  traffic  do  we  appear 
in  your  country :  our  aim  is  much  higher.  Keep  your  beaver,  if 
you  like,  for  the  Dutch :  what  comes  to  our  hands  shall  be  eni- 

*  For  this  title,  sec  Lafltau,  Mceurs  dcs  Sauvages,  ii.  172.  It  is  the  mod- 
ern Atotarlio. 

+  ChaiuTionot  calls  the  Huron  the  mother  of  the  other  dialects,  and  says 
that  in  a  month  he  was  able  to  speak  the  Onondaga. — Antobiographie. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


281 


\ 


ploved  for  your  service*  We  seek  not  jMMisluilde  thiii^s.  l-'or 
the  taitli  alone  liave  wo  left  our  land;  for  the  faitii  iiave  we  tra- 
versed tlie  ocean;  for  the  faitli  have  we  left  the  threat  ships  of  the 
Krench  to  enter  vour  tiiiv  canoes;  for  the  faith  I  hold  in  niv 
hand  this  present,  and  open  my  lips  to  summon  you  to  keep  y(»ur 
word  given  at  (Quebec.  You  iiave  solenuily  promised  to  hearken 
to  the  words  of  the  great  (iod;  they  are  in  my  mouth — hear 
them  !"  Then,  running  over  the  principal  doctrines,  he  called 
upon  them  to  say  whether  they  were  not  just,  and  sunmioned 
tlu'in  by  their  hope  of  bliss  or  fear  of  chastisement  to  embrace  the 
faith. 

Thrilling  was  the  etiect  of  this  address.  AVonder  and  fear, 
mingled  with  joy  and  hope,  swayed  the  minds  of  his  auditory,  and 
the  missionary  that  day  seemed  more  than  human,  lie  was  in- 
deed  borne  up  by  a  liea\  enly  strength ;  for  he  had  risen  from  a 
sick-bed  to  deliver  liis  address,  and  a  few  days  after  was  sur- 
ru'.mded  by  his  companions,  who,  in  dejection,  awaited  his  last 
moment.  He  was,  however,  spared.  Full  of  confidence  in  St. 
Teter,  he  invoked  the  aid  of  the  Prince  of  the  apostles,  and  soon 
rose  from  his  couch  in  health,  being  destined,  in  fact,  to  outlive 
all  those  around  him. 

This  council  ended,  all  was  activity,  liy  August  a  chapel  was 
erected  in  Onondaga ;  and  Avhile  some  advanced  the  fort  and  resi- 
dence at  Ganentaa,  the  missionaries  attended  the  chapel,  or  visited 
the  cabins  to  instruct  and  learn.  As  in  the  Huron  country, 
sickness  now  broke  out  among  the  Europeans,  and  twenty  of  the 
party  were  at  once  prostrated  by  fever ;  but  by  the  kindly  aid  of 
the  natives  all  recovered. 

In  October,  Achiendaso  was  solemnly  adopted  by  Sagochienda- 
guete,  the  head  sachem,  in  the  presence  of  deputies  from  the 
other  cantons ;    and   though   a   dispute  seemed   i-ising   between 


*  A  charge  had  been  made  that  the  nilssioimric!*  were  mere  traders. 


232 


AMKinCAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


kit 


y 


!i 


the  Mohawks  aii<i  <  )ii(»ii(lMffas,  \\\\(t  lioth  "laiiiied  tlio  IIuioiih 
of  Isli'  nilcaiis,  the  mission  \va>  to  all  a|»|ic'araii»H,'  tinnly  cstah- 
lish.Ml. 

Tile  \v<»ik  of  coiivei'sion.s  now  hoffan  :  tlu;  faith  was  more  t;la<llv 
locoiM'd  by  tuc  ( )iioii(lai!,as  than  it  lia<l  hcen  l»y  the  lluions.  Tli.' 
easy  manners  of  tlic  jH'oplf  icndcnMl  intoiconrse  less  (lilHcult;  aii'l 
at  }»nhru'  and  jnlvatc  «i^ath('rin!L(s  the  l\athers,  avaiHnu;  th(Mn.selvr,>, 
of  the  custuin  of  relatinn"  old  ti'aditions,  ivcotinted  tlie  evontis  nl" 
sacred  liistory.  ( )bsta('K's,  however,  wore  not  wantini^;  even  diitct 
c'harufes,  of  the  most  absurd  nature,  were  brought  against  the  mi>- 
sionaiies, — a  jtojmlar  o!ig  being  that  the  French  l)a}>lized  Indians 
otdy  to  torment  them  more  at  ease  in  iieaven;  and  on  one  oeia- 
sion,  Fatlier  Dablon  was  in  no  slight  danger,  being  suspected  nf 
having  carried  oft'  a  box  full  of  souls. 

Prisoners  and  shives,  brouglit  from  no  less  tlian  seventeen  diti'ei- 
ent  nations,  were  the  tii-st  to  enter  the  fold ;  but  natives,  and  even 
chiefs  and  captains,  soon  followed,  moved  especially  by  the  influ- 
ence of  the  Christian  llurons,  who,  being  now  helots  in  Onondaga, 
showed  the  power  of  religion  in  their  virtues  and  patience.  Among 
the  natives,  John  liaptist  Achiongeras,  the  first  convert,  full  of 
fiiith,  endeavored  to  convert  his  sister,  who  haughtily  refused  to 
listen  to  him.  Despairing  of  success,  he  began  a  novena  to  St. 
Mary  Magdalen ;  and  on  the  second  day  his  sister's  heart  w  its 
changed. 

When  the  faith  had  thus  acquired  a  footing  .it  Onondaga,  the 
band  of  apostolic  men  spread  themselves  among  the  cantons,  hi 
the  latter  part  of  August,  1G5G,  Fathers  Chaumonot  and  Menard 
set  out  to  answer  the  invitations  of  the  Cayug.is  and  Senccas. 
The  former,  leaving  Menard  at  Cayuga,  proceeded  to  the  populous 
villages  of  the  Senecjis. 

Menard,  who  was  welcomed  by  the  chief,  erected  a  chapel,  but 
was  coldly  received  by  the  tribe,  and  so  little  regarded  that  lie 
never  appeared  w  ithout  being  attacked  by  the  children.     To  tlio 


FUENCIl    ]^1ISS10NS. 


233 


(lay  of  liis  doatli,  many  yeais  after  .-iiiiid  llio  f»msts  of  rpjMT 
MicliiLjan,  lu'  Immv  tlu*  scars  with  wliicli  tlicsc  tttiiiu'iitois  «'»)\iMf»l 
lii>  face.  V»'l  the  simple  i^iiilrlL'ssiicss  of  I'aihcr  llriii'  miuh 
won  thi'ir  licart.s  ;  aii«l  uhfii  once  lie  had  i-oiivcilrd  a  rhid.  his 
(liafK'l  was  tillrd  witli  admiring  and  iistcninuj  cntwds.  ( >ii  iis 
wall  of  mats,  lu'sido  the  altar,  huni;  ]»icturos  of  uur  l.(»rd  and 
his  lilessed  Mother,  and  tu  explain  these  the  missionary  told  tin- 
history  of  our  re<lem|>tion.  Now,  io«;,  the  ehildren  chani^vd  and 
hccamo  his  helpers  in  the  mission,  lea«lini(  jiim  to  the  eahins  of  the 
>i(k,  and  tfivinji;  him  the  names  of  all,  which  some  studiously  <'ou- 
cealed. 

The  women,  already  moved  by  the  virtues  of  the  llmon  te- 
iiiales,  were  the  first  converts:  they  brought  their  babes  to  receive 
haptism;  they  followed  his  instructions;  and  in  almost  every  cabin 
could  be  found  an  Indian  mother  teaehinij  ber  wavward  child  to 
lisp  a  prayer  to  Jesus  and  Mary. 

Menard,  meanwhile,  was  now  rapidly  acquiring  the  (.'ayuga  dia- 
lect, under  the  instructions  oi'  an  excellent  family,  in  whose  cabin 
he  was  often  a  guest.  His  mission  was  advancing ;  his  cha))el  was 
crowded  with  catechumens;  but  lie  baptized  few  adults,  and  sel- 
dom but  in  case  of  dauijer.  The  first  admitted  to  the  sacrament 
was  an  old  man  on  his  deatli-bed;  the  second,  once  a  j»rominent 
chief,  now  u  cripple,  eaten  up  by  a  cancer,  whose  conveision 
seemed  due  to  the  martvre*!  IJrebeuf  and  Lalemant.  At  theil 
capture  he  liad  been  struck  by  their  apjiearance,  and  bought 
them  with  wampum,*  yet  was  unable  to  save  them,  for  his  belts 
Were  returned,  and  the  missionaries  put  to  death.  His  conver- 
sion gave  great  infiuencc  to  religion,  for  his  authority  always 
stood  very  high   in  tlie  canton ;    and  indeed   all  protection  was 


*  Wampum  was  bends  nindo  of  the  clam-shell,  which,  worked  on  belts 
or  collars,  was  the  money  and  the  jewelry  of  the  Indians.  These  belts  served, 
ton,  as  public  documents,  and  in  treaties  one  was  delivered  for  every  hpo- 
oific  article  of  the  negotiation. 


2U 


AMEHICAN   ('ATIIOMC    MISSIONS. 


f 


u 


UiTilt'd  l)y  Mnianl,  who  was  on   scvcial  occasioiiH  lliicati'iu'tl  with 
(l«'alli. 

After  H  stay  ot  two  inoiahs  In-  was  H'calltd  to  ( )iioii(|a'ra,  hut 
his  converts  wi'ie  iii(:oijs<ihiMt',  aii«l  he  was  .soon  r«.'store<l  to  their 
onticalit's,  and  liUiewtMl  Jiis  mission  >vith  i^ivatcr  succoss  tlian  uv»r. 

Father  Cliaiiinonot,  on  reaellin^•  (iandagan*,  the  chief  vilhtge  ..t" 
tli(!  Soiiecas,  was  received  with  |)oni]>.  In  iiis  address  he  urged 
them  to  embrace  the  faitli,  staking  his  own  life  and  that  of  all  his 
associates,  as  a  guarantee  of  its  truth.  He  was  followed  tVc^m  tin- 
(•ouncil  hy  a  chief,  who  hegged  to  be  instructed  without  delay, — 
u  striking  ]»roof  of  ijie  magic  |>ower  which  i'haumonot's  elo(|Ueri((' 
j)ossessed,  for  an  Indian  must  b<'  deeply  moved  to  show  liis  feeliiii:-. 
Conversions  followed;  but  the  most  important  was  that  of  ilu' 
great  chief  of  the  tribe,  tli*'  invalid  Aniiontenritaoui.  Visited,  in- 
structed, and  ba])ti/ed  by  C'haumonot,  bis  t'aitli  was  rewarded  l>y 
tliu  sudden  cure  of  a  cancer  that  bad  bafHed  all  art. 

J'x'sides  (landagare,  tbere  was  anotber  village  wbicb  had  .-i 
dcH'p  interest  for  the  old  missionary  of  IFuionia.  This  was  a  vil- 
lage made  up  of  tbe  survivors  of  the  ohl  missions  of  St.  MichaelV 
and  St.  Jolm's  in  tbe  Huron  country,  wben,  as  we  bave  seen,  tli<»e 
towns  submitted  to  tbo  Senecas  in  the  fatal  war.  Here  all 
tbronged  annind  tbe  old  companion  of  lirebeuf  and  Daniel.  N<»t 
one  pagan  now  bcld  back  from  baptism  ;  not  one  Christian  iVoni 
confession  ;  not  one  was  unconverted  bv  misfortune.  To  be  thus 
able  to  minister  to  tbese  poor  exiles,  was  in  itself  a  reward  for  tlu- 
toils  of  tbe  missioiuirv  ;  but  bis  joy  was  dashed  by  the  loss  of  his 
faithful  donue,  Le  Moyne,  who  had  followed  him  in  all  his  triaU, 
but  now  sank  in  death,  on  the  beautiful  shores  of  Luke  Tlolicio, 
rejoicing  that  it  was  given  bini  to  die  on  the  land  of  the  In>}oiii>, 
in  tbe  work  of  the  gospel. 

After  laving  the  foumhitions  of  a  mission  in  this  canton,  the  uii- 
wearied  Chaumonot  returned  to  Onondaga,  but  was  iinme«liately 
sent,  with  Menard,  to  Oneida,  to  o'>en  friendlv  relations  with  tli;it 


FKKNCIl    MLSSluNrf. 


235 


in<">!<t  tlitlii'iilt  i»f  tlu'  tril»L'>.''''  TlifV  rt';irln'i|  it  ;iiiii<l  tln' niiii«niliuu- 
aiuia,  wliirli  was,  liowt-vt-r,  alter  a  ti-u  (la\>,  >ii>|m'ihI»'i|  ii»  ciiaM*' 
tlic  sacluMiis  to  lit-ar  tin-in.  AtUT  tnij^iiii;  the  iiii|M»rta!ir('  i»t"  |K'ac<', 
aiiiiouiicinuif  iIk-  law  of  riiri>t,  ami  iiiiiii.-lt'iiiii;  to  the  Union  fap- 
tivos,  they  returiitd  to  St.  Mai  v's. 

<  )non(hii^a  wjih,  theretbre,  the  I't-iitral,  or,  in  tact,  th«;  only  ii'i^nilar 
iiiis.sion;  but  it  wa-*  imw  estahlislinl  on  a  Hriii  basis.  The  ollicis 
«»t"  the  Church  wdc  eelel»nite<l,  the  sarraiiiciits  a<lministt  iftl,  aii'l 


Christian  virtues  piaeticrd.as  rei^nlarly  a 


iw 


I  t  aift'nllv  as  in  the  iii<i>t 


('atholie  parts  of  J'hiiopc.  [n  a  short  tiiiif  wo  hintlicil  wc^e  haj"- 
ti/.i'(i,  among  them  live  (•hicftains,  tlir  eoiiif.  stones  oi"  ihit  (  linieh  ; 
uiM'  of  wiiom,  in  a  puhlie  asscmltly,  atlvoeated  the  faith  .is  the  only 
lin|»e  of  savinuf  their  eoiintrv  hv  restoiini;  iiiovalitv,  a<'  I,  al">v  all, 
titlt'litv  in  marriaLrc,  and  in  th«ir  irlations  with  raeh  oiIkt  lie 
want  of  which  ha<l  been  more  (K'stnictivt-  tiiaa  armies. 

Tlie  women  esiH-ciallv  listened  to  the  woids  ot"  irii'h,  and  the 
accounts  of  the  missionaries  dwell  with  inteiot  on  u'  noble  deatii 
"t"  Nh'ii;dalen  'riotoiiharason,  who  had  j^itiie  to  (^uei»ee  to  learn  the 
}>r(iii(>i\\  and  vvlio  remained  steadfast  t<>  her  last  siLTh,  amid  the 
seductions  and  jM'rsuasi<»iis  of  her  unbelievini;  relative.  I'he  bold 
stand  of  the  missionaries  ae-ainst  polyH^amy  had  W(»n  to  their  cause 
all  the  women,  who  felt,  indeed,  the  (;nmes  to  which  their  actual 
state  often  gave  rise. 

The  church  was  comj)osed  of  three  nations,  <  )iiondajii;as.  Unions, 
and  Neutrals,  all  bound  tOLj;ether  l>y  tlie  c'"<u  ,on  tie  of  t'aith,  which 
made  master  and  slave  kneel  down  side  by  side.     Nij  obsta<le  was 


*  On  cncampiiijT  one  uiglit  in  tlie  wo  x,-*,  u  ehiet' thus  uddressud  tlii.'in: 
•' Ah,  my  brethren  I  you  are  wcury.  Wliat  tri>ul)lc  you  have  to  walk  on 
t>iio\v,  on  iee,  and  in  the  water.  But  ciurajjre  !  let  us  not  coini>Iain  of  tlir 
toil,  (<inco  wc  undertake  it  I'l  :  so  noble  a  cause.  Ye  demons,  who  iniiabjt 
tlicse  woods,  beware  ot'injurinjr  any  oftliose  wiio  compose  tiiis  embassy.  Aiul 
yon,  trees,  laden  with  years,  whom  old  age  must  soon  level  with  the  earth, 
siis[icnd  your  tall ;  envelop  not  in  your  ruin  those  who  j^o  tn  pn:vcnt  the  ruin 
''provinces  and  nations.''  t  Christianily. 


nl 


280 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


u 


I 


II 


I 


« 


u 


raised  l»y  tlie  mcdicino-nion,  no  saclicm  oppo.sed  the  missionaries, 
and  ail  gloried  in  the  name  of  Cliristian. 

Wlien  tidings  of  tliis  success  reaciit-d  Quebec,  liie  Suin^riuis 
chose  new  missionaries  to  proceed  to  so  promising  a  liekl.  A  party 
of  llurons  were  ahvady  at  Montreal,  alxmt  to  emigrate  to  Oiiun- 
daga.  Fathers  l*aul  Itagueneau  and  Joseph  Imbert  Duperou  soon 
joined  them,  >vith  a  lay-biother  and  some  Fieuch  colonists,  and  in 
July,  1057,  thev  set  out  for  the  mouth  of  the  Oswoi^o.  Soon  afui 
tlieir  departure  a  deep-laid  plot  was  discovered.  The  missioiiari*  > 
and  other  Frniclimen  were  treated  coldly,  and  at  last  abandons  1. 
liy  chanc<.'  they  found  a!i  old  canoe,  and  kept  uj>  with  the  tlotilla ; 
but,  on  the  J3d  of  August,  their  worst  feai-s  were  realized  by  a  n\i\>- 
sacre  of  the  llurons,  instigated  by  an  Onondaga  chief,  who,  jmu- 
vokcd  at  the  ri'sistanc*;  made  to  him  bv  a  virtuous  Huron  ix'wL 
killed  her,  and  urged  the  slaughter  of  all. 

Kagueneau  reproached  the  Onondagas  with  their  treacliery  ;  but 
thev  boldlv  asserted  that,  in  slauo'litering  tlie  llurons,  thev  men-lv 
comj)lied  with  the  ordeis  of  the  governor  and  the  missionaries. 
The  Fathers  and  their  companions  now  prepared  to  die,  foi"  they 
heai'd  that  it  was  resolved  to  i)Ut  them  to  deatli.  It  was  indeed 
so,  but  considerations  of  policy  caused  tlie  chiefs  to  suspeu«l  the 
blow,  and  the  Fathers  reached  the  mission  of  St.  Mary's  in  safety. 
There  they  found  that  all  was  changed;  hostility  was  openly  shown 
bv  those  who  had  warmlv  welcomed  them,  and  nothinsjf  remainid 
but  to  enih'avor  to  escape.  AVitli  nuicli  dilliculty  they  sent  to 
Quebec  a  full  account  of  their  position. 

Such  was  the  state  of  tlie  (Onondaga  mission.  That  of  the  Mo- 
hawk had  matle  less  progress.  That  tribe,  still  hostile,  had  attackt-d 
the  CUtawas  near  Montreal  and  killed  Father  (Jarreau,  then  burst 
on  the  llurons  f»f  Isle  Orleans  and  swept  many  away  captive.  \<'U 
in  the  sunmier  of  HioO,  the  fearless  Father  Le  Moyne  aijain  visited 
tlieir  strong  castles,  and  after  reproaching  them  with  their  cruelty 
and  watit  of  faith,  devoted  himself  to  the  care  of  the  llurons  of  the 


FHKNCll    MISSION'S. 


** 


Bear  familv,  who  had,  after  tlie  t'atai  (hiv  on  U\g  ()rleaii>,  eiiiii»ratecl 
to  tlie  Mohawk.  Like  a  good  Fatlier  he  consoled  tlie  atllieted,  in- 
structed the  ignorant,  heard  the  confessions  of  all  who  came,  bap- 
tized the  children,  made  all  j)ray,  and  exhorted  them  to  |K'rsevtic 
in  the  faith  and  avoid  sin.  Tlu-  Mohawks,  touched  l»y  the  i>ie!y 
of  the  Ilurons,  especially  of  one  whom  they  had  ])Ut  to  d»'atli,  no'A 
came  to  listen  to  the  instructions  of  the  7uissionarv,  an<l  he  ne\t  r 
let  them  go  without  some  words  on  heaven  and  hell,  the  power  of 
an  all-seeing  and  all-knowing  (jod,  who  rewarded  tlu;  good  and 
})unished  the  wicked. 

Having  thus  completed  his  duties  as  envoy,  and  fultilled  his 
jM-oinise  to  the  Ilurons  on  their  emigration,  Le  Moyiuj  returned  to 
l^tiohec,  which  he  reached  on  the  oth  of  November,  IG.jG.'-''*  Soon 
after  the  departure  of  llaguenejui  and  his  companions  for  <  )non<laLra 
in  the  following  summer,  he,  too,  set  out  once  more  for  the  Mo- 
hawk. He  left  the  colony  on  the  20th  of  August ;  but,  on  arriving 
at  the  Mohawk  castles,  found  himself  held  rather  as  a  prisoner  oi' 
hostage  than  as  a  friend,  for  there,  too,  an  evident  hostility  to  the 
I'ronch  prevailed. 

Thus,  and  apparently  without  a  cause,  tlui  missionaries,  after 
liaving  had  access  to  every  canton,  after  having  announced  in  all 
the  gospel  r>f  truth,  found  themselves  destined  to  death  and  driven 
from  the  field. 

'J'he  councils  of  the  Iroquois  were  secret,  but  their  plans  weie 
known  in  the  cantons,  and  some  of  the  brav«'s  were  too  impatient 
t<»  await  the  development  of  their  sachems'  plot,  rrowling  around 
the  French  settlements  they  committed  several  murders.  Daille- 
'">nt,  the  governor,  quick  an<l  far-seeing,  resolved  to  have  host- 
.'ii:''s  in  his  hands,  and  suildenly  arn-sted  all  the  Iroipiois  t^ithin 
iIk'  limits  of  the  colony  ;  and,  on  the  Vth  of  Xnvember,  disjtatehed 
two  Mohawks  with  letters  for  Le  Movne  and  the  (,)nondaga  mis 


t» 


H 


*  Eel.  165G-7;  Jouru.  Jesuitc. 


238 


AMKHICAX   CATirOLIC   MISSIONS. 


sionanes.  The  t'onner  wore  delivoioil,  the  latter  destroyed;  but 
runners  soon  conveyed  to  Onondau:a  tlie  news  <tt'  the  nieasinvs  ot" 
l)aillebout. 

Disconcerted  by  this  unexpected  step,  the  sadieins  of  Ououdaija 
and  Moliawk  deterred  tlie  blow.  Le  Moyne,  in  necenibcr,  sciii 
three  inessenc;i'rs  with  a  letter  to  the  <jfov«Mnor,  announciiii;  tli 
hostilities  of  the  Iro<juois  tribes  aufainst  the  upper  and  lowei'  Alu'nii- 
quins.  l)aillebout  tirudy  demanded  the  inunediate  return  of  I.. 
Moyne,  and  the;  surrender  f»f  some  uuu'derers.  J>oth  weit*  jiromise.l. 
])Ut  the  missionary  remained,  an  object  of  suspicion  and  dislikr. 
unable  eitlier  to  continue  his  labors  or  to  return,  and  iH-guiiiiin' lii-- 
lialf-ca]>tivitv  bv  an  occasional  visit  to  the  1  Mitch.* 

At  ()nonda:X'i  it  was  dilVerent  :  the  sachems  still  hoped  l.»  be 
able  to  cut  oil' the  colony  in  their  inidst  without  forfeitini»- the  liw-^ 
of  their  hostau'es  at  (.Quebec.  ForeseeiuiX  a  bloody  catastrophe,  llii 
Superior  had  recalled  all  the  Fatheis,  and  Dujmis  all  liis  colonist- 
within  the  fort  and  house  at  8t.  Mary's,  to  resist,  escape,  or  fall 
together. 

Thus  the  winter  wore  slowly  away,  and  day  by  day  their  lonninn; 
eyes  loo!<ed  in  vain  for  a  ray  of  ho[»e ;  spring  came,  and,  in  a  ii-w 
council  on  the  Mohawk,  the  tinai  resolution  of  the  sachem^  \v,i- 
taken.  Ihit  belbro  they  could  carry  out  their  bloody  design,  while 
the  piles  were  actually  ]»re])aring  foi"  their  execution,  the  iiii<- 

siouarics  resolved  to  attem})t  a  secret  tlight,  impossible  as  it  seei 1 

to  escajH'  unobserved  through  a  country  of  detiles,  where  a  do/.eii 
braves  could  destroy  them  all. 

Silently  and  rapidly,  in  the  residence  of  St.  Mary's,  skilful  liainN 
were  constructing  two  s  sift,  light  boats, each  large  enough  to  cany 
fotu't«en  or  tifteen  imlividuals  and  a  weight  of  a  thousand  pouiiJ-. 
They  also  i'(»nci'altMl  in  tin?  house  their  canoes,  foiu*  of  Alu'"»ni|iiiii. 
tive  of  Iroquois  make.     The  great  diHiculty  now  remained;  ilii-' 

*  It  wns  on  one  of  these  that  ho  revcnloJ  to  the  Dutch  the  Jiscoverj-  of  rlio 
Milt  s|»rin},'s,  to  hnvo  hU  word  disholiovo'l  iu-»  a  Jesuit  lie  ! 


FREN'CIf   MISSIONS. 


289 


)vo<l;  I'ut 
easuivs  ct' 

Dnondiiua 
inlxT,  x'lii 
nciiiii;  ill  ' 
\y'Y  Alu"' Ill- 
urn    ot"   I.'' 

'  |irojnis(''l. 
\\{\  (lislikf, 
guilinn'  111- 

oped  to  1"' 
no-  tlic  lives 
■^troplx',  lit'' 
lis  eoV>i»ist> 
■ape,  or  t;ill 

icir  loiiLi'iii'i" 
|1,  in  ii  U'W 
K'hcnis  w;i- 
•io-ii,  wliilr 
till'  mi- 
it  S('(Mll''il 

re  a  do/oii 

[ilt'ul  li:tii'l- 
fli  to  earn 
ml  pouii'W. 

[\]u'<illi|lli!l. 

iiK'tl ;  ilii' 
lovcry  ot'fli>' 


was  to  embark  unseen,  fur  tlic  >liijljt','>l  suspicion  of  their  intent 
would  draw  the  whole  toive  of  the  canton  upon  tlieni.  At  last  a 
favorable  moment  arilvM:,.  A  youn;;  Krenehman  was  adopted  into 
the  tribe;  and,  in  accordance  with  their  customs,  o-ave  a  baiKjUet. 
Availing  liimself  of  one  of  their  usages,  he  pr<jclaimed  it  to  be  one 
where  every  thing  must  be  eaten  and  nothing  left,  immense  as 
might  be  the  mass  of  eatables  placed  before  the  guest.*  'J'o  this 
feast  every  neighbor  was  invited,  the  plenteous  board  groaned  be- 
neath the  weight  of  viands,  and  as  none  could  refuse  his  portion, 
the  overloaded  guests,  <'\eite(l  by  the  datices  and  games  which  the 
French  kept  uj)  in  (juick  succession,  or  lulled  by  the  nuisic,  were 
insensible  to  all  but  the  festivities  before  them.  Amid  th(»  uproar 
iind  noise  the  boats  were  silently  borne  to  tht;  watei-'s  edge,  and  as 
>ilentlv  loaded.  (Iraduallv  as  niufht  closed  in  the  wearv  ufuests 
liei^an  to  drop  away,  the  music  and  dance  being  still  kept  up  by 
the  French.  When  these  ceased,  all  the  Onondagas  dej)arte<l, 
and  were  soon  after  buried  in  sleep.     Silence  reigned  around. 

The  whole  French  colony  hurried  to  their  tlotilla  and  pushed 
etT,  about  midnight,  on  the  20th  of  March,  IGoS.  Tht;  water  of 
t'lo  lake  froze  around  them  as  thev  advaticed,  and  fear  almost  fro/e 
their  blood,  yet  on  they  went  all  night  long,  and  all  the  next  day; 
haml  succeeded  hand  at  the  oar  and  the  ]>ad<lle,  till,  on  the  second 
evening,  without  having  met  a  singh;  living  soul,  they  saw  Ontario 
spread  its  seadike  expanse  before  them.  Their  greatest  dangei"  was 
iK'W  past,  and  the  distance  between  them  and  their  treacheious 
hosts  gave  them  time  to  breathe. 

AVhen  the  Onondagas  had  slept  olf  their  revel  they  strolled  from 
their  huts,  and,  as  thev  rambled  towards  St.  Nfarv's  of  (Janentaa, 
were  surprised  at  the  silence  that  reignerl  around  it.  Siip]>osiiig 
the  inmates  at  prayer  or  in  council,  they  awaited  the  result  calndy. 


*  As  to  this  fcv-t,  sec  I.iifitau,  Mamrs  il.  211.     It  w.ns  ori^'inally  relipioua, 
iii)<l  u  kind  of  sneritioo. 


1 


240 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


If 


fli     t 


ii    ^ 


for  an  Indian  never  bc4ray.s  curiosity.  <  >!:'  tli<'ir  presence  there  they 
had  no  doubt,  the  cocks  were  crowing-,  the  dojL>'  answered  the  knock 
at  tlie  door.  Yet  iis  tlie  afternoon  waned,  tlieir  patience  was  cx- 
liausted,  and,  scalinij  the  side  of  the  h(»use,  they  entered.  No  sound 
<'('ho(*d  throui>'li  the  l)uilding  but  tliat  of  their  own  cautious  st»'|w: 
in  fri<j^lit  and  tiouble  tliey  stole  lhroui;'h,  and  opened  the  ni.iiii 
door.  The  sagest  chiefs  enter :  from  garret  to  ceHar  every  spot 
is  examined :  not  a  Frenchman  can  be  found.  Fear  and  tenor 
seize  them :  gazing  at  each  otlier  in  silence,  they  fled  from  the 
liousc.  Xo  trace  betrayed  the  flight  of  the  French.  "  They  have 
become  invisible,"  cried  the  r)nondagas,  "and  flown  or  walked 
upon  the  waters,  for  canoes  they  had  not.""* 

They,  meanwhile,  amid  a  thousand  dangers,  in  an  unknown 
route,  through  lake,  and  river,  and  ra})i<l,  and  fall,  reached  Montiv.il. 
after  seeing  one  of  their  canoes  and  three  of  tiieir  party  engult'.il 
in  the  St.  Lawrence.  In  the  colony  they  were  received  as  nieu 
from  bevond  the  ifrave. 

Thus  ended,  after  a  brief  existence,  the  mission  of  St.  Mary's  of 
Ganentaa  in  the  Onondaga  country,  with  its  dependent  missions 
among  the  Oneidas,  C'ayugas,  and  Senecas.  It  had  been  toundeil 
and  conducted  with  great  toil,  and  at  great  expense ;  it  was  now 
crushed,  but  its  eflect  was  not  lost :  many  had  been  brought  to  the 
faith,  and  more  convinced  of  the  truth  and  beauty  of  Christianity, 
who  for  motives  of  policy  still  held  l;»ack.f 

Among  the  Mohawks  Le  Moyne  was  in  no  less  danger  than  liis 
brethren  had  been  at  Onondaga.  On  the  25th  of  March  lu'  wrote 
from  the  Dutch  settlement  a  letter  which  he  sui)posed  was  to  givo 
the  last  tidings  of  his  labors ;  but  soon  after  the  sachems,  remem- 
bering their  })romise,  appointed  envoys  to  convey  him  to  Montiviil. 
and  an  embassy,  heade<l  bv  the  wilv  Atojjwaekwan,  brought  him 
safely  to  his  countrymen  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  1G58. 


*  Rel.  1G57-8,  ch.  viii. 

t  Kel.  lGr)7-8,  ch.  ii.    A  MS.  of  F.  Ronvnrt  says  thnt  it  cost  7000  livroa. 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


241 


Xot  a  missionary  now  reniained  in  the  torritory  of  the  Iroquois, 
aiitl  the  war  which  iiumetliatoly  broke  out  precluded  for  a  time  any 
liope  of  return.* 


*  Rcl.  1657-8.  Of  the  missionaries  engaged  in  this  first  Iroquois  mi.<sion, 
?oine  were  eminent  in  other  missions.  Father  Claudius  Dablon  arrived  in 
Canada  in  1G55,  and  made  his  first  essay  in  the  apostolate  at  Onondasra.  In 
Itii'.l  he  accompanied  Druillettcs  on  an  expedition  overland  to  Hudson's  IJay  ; 
wiis  next  with  Father  Marquette,  on  Lake  Superior,  in  IOCS,  and,  after  found- 
iiii,'  Sault  St.  Mary's,  became  Superior  of  all  the  missions  in  IGTO.  This  posi- 
tion lie  occupied  for  several  years,  certainly  as  lato  as  1003,  and  ho  \va~  still 
alive  in  the  following  year.  As  Superior  he  edited  the  last  published  JJcla- 
tious  (lt)71-2),  and  compiled  otlicrs  still  in  manuscript,  and  a  narrative  of 
Marquette's  voyage,  published  in  "The  Discovery  and  Exploration  of  the 
.Mis>issippi :  New  York,  ls.")2." 

Of  Menard  we  shall  speak  elsewhere.  Father  Francis  Lc  Meroier  arrived 
in  1C;5.',  and  was  attached  to  the  Huron  mission  till  its  ruin.  He  was  Supe- 
rior from  1053  to  105G  and  from  1C,>]')  to  1G70,  anil  rendered  eminent  services 
t'l  reliirion.  At  Quebec  he  was,  for  a  time,  the  tlireetor  of  the  venerable 
Miither  Mary  of  the  Incarnation.  Leaving  Canada,  ho  was  sent  to  the  We>t 
Iiiiiies,  and,  after  being  many  years  Superior,  there  died  in  tlu'  odor  of 
^alR•tity.     As  Superior  in  Canada  he  publislicd  six  volumes  of  the  Kflations. 

Fatlier  Paul  Kagueneau  was  born  at  J'aris  in  lG<"»r),  and  arrived  in  Canada 
in  June,  163G.  Under  the  name  of  Aondcch.'te  lie  labored  in  the  Huron 
ooiuUryfrom  this  time,  with  a  brief  interruption,  to  tlie  close  of  the  mission, 
lie  was  Superior  from  IGoU  to  10.33,  and  returning  to  France  in  IGGG,  became 
i^Liit  (  f  the  Canada  mission,  and  died  at  I'aris  on  tlie  3d  of  September,  IGaO. 
Ill'  wrote  four  volumes  of  Relations,  and  the  Life  of  Mother  Catharine  of  St. 
Augustine,  an  Ursuline  nun. 


11 


CIIAPTEU    XII. 


IROQUOIS    MISSION (CONTINUED.) 


Garaconlie,  the  frU'iid  of  the  missions — His  protection— Knilmssy  to  Quebec — Mission 
renewed — Futlier  Simon  le  Moyne  a'^ain  at  Ononila^a— Itetained  till  the  spring' — Uh 
labors  diirlnj;  tlio  winter — Ills  diuifrers-(Jiirucontiu  Rt)sent — Mission  at  Cayujja— lie- 
turn  to  Montreal — His  ctinracter  and  deaili— Garacontio  ajjain  —Conversion  ofaSeneca 
chief— Negotiations — Missionaries  asked  and  promised— Mohawk  war — General  peace. 

Dark  as  tlie  cause  of  Cliiistiaiiity  seemed  in  the  cantons,  it  was 
not  witliout  its  liopes  of  a  new  and  bn«j^htei'  day.  At  Onondaga  many 
had  been  won  to  the  side  of  Clnistianity,  and  on  these  the  futuie 
d('i)ended;  hut,  unfortunately,  none  seemed  possessed  of  suflicieiit 
iiiiUieiice  to  effect  a  change  in  the  councils  of  the  tribe.  Neithir 
Achiongeras,  nor  any  of  the  rest,  could  liopc  to  restore  the  mission, 
having  in  all  probal)ility  lost  grade  by  their  adherence  to  a  foreiirii 
creed.  At  this  moment  God  raised  up  one  destined  to  be  for  years 
a  protector,  and,  at  last,  an  humbh'  follower  of  the  Christian  religion, 
(jiaiacontie,  "the  sun  that  advances,"  was  a  nephew  of  the  Sani*- 
chiendaguetc,  or,  as  moderns  call  him,  the  Tododaho,  great  saehfiii 
of  the  league.  Himself  neither  sachem  nor  chief,  undistinguished 
on  the  war-path,  he  had,  by  his  eloquence,  ability,  and  political  wis- 
dom, acquired  a  power  such  as  we  have  seen  in  our  own  days  ex 
ercised  by  the  orator  Red  Jacket.* 

During  the  brief  existence  of  St.  Mary's  of  Ganentaa,  Garacontio 
had  examined  with  care  the  customs  of  the  colonists  and  the  doc- 
trines of  the  missionaries,  and   had  come  to  the  conclusion  that 

*  Lftfitau  says  positively  tliat  lio  was  only  an  orator;  but  it  nmy  be  ili;it 
bo,  like  Clinrlevoix,  coiifotimls  liiin  witli  bis  brotber,  wbo  bore,  ns  wc  sliall 
sue,  tbc  saiuo  name. 


FllENCll   MISSIONS. 


243 


civilization  and  Cliristianity  wore  necessary  tor  the  preser\'ation  ot' 
his  nation.  No  siifn  liacl,  however,  betrayed  this  t:iv»»rnMo  ctjtiniofi 
to  the  missionaries  :  he  never  .sat  amoni;' their  disci[iiL's,  and  se«'Mi»'<l 
as  inditlerent  a  iiearer  as  any  around  liini.  His  part,  liowever,  was 
talven.  After  tlie  llii^lit  of  tiie  Kreneli,  he  was  openly  tlie  prot«H'tor 
of  the  Cliristians,  and  tiie  earnest  advocate  of  }>oace.  In  spite  of 
liis  endeavors  war  was  renewed  aeainst  tlie  Freneli  with  unw(jnted 
ferocitv.  The  villaf^es  of  Canada  wen-  in  llanies.the  wliole  frontier 
was  inundated  in  bhwd,  (^uehec  was  ltlo(d<aded,  the  best  men  in 
the  colony  were  cut  down  in  sight  of  the  forts  by  tlie  wily  foe. 
Others  were  led  awav  to  furnish  sport  bv  their  tortures  to  the  elans 
in  their  villajje-lionK's,  or  to  lin<i:»'r  awav  in  cantivitv.  (Jaracontie 
roseuod  as  many  as  lie  could  in  all  the  cantons,  bv  i)resents  and  by 
arifuments.  These,  to  the  number  f>f  twenty-four,  he  assembled  at 
Onondaga,  and  at  morning  and  night,  by  a  bell,  called  them  and 
the  Ilurons  to  prayer.  <  )n  Sundays  he  gave  feasts,  now  in  one 
cabin,  now  in  another,  in  order  to  enal>le  the  Christians  to  spend 
the  (lay  in  ]>rayer. 

^^eanwllile,  in  coimcil  and  in  private,  he  lal)ored  to  incline  his 
tribe  to  peace,  and  at  last  succeeded.  The  (.)non<lagas  resolvetl  to 
send  an  embassy  to  (Quebec,  and  restore  some  of  the  captives  as  a 
jMvliniinary  of  peace. 

In  July,  1000,  the  beleaguered  townsmen  of  Montreal  beheld  an 
hvMjiiois  canoe  shoot  out  above  the  town,  with  a  white  flag  flutter- 
ing in  the  breeze.  Men  crowded  in  anxiety  to  the  wall,  but  the 
canoe  came  silently  on,  and  on  reaching  the  bank  in  front  of  the 
town-gate,  the  wairiors  stepped  ashore  as  calmly  as  if  they  were 
friendly  guests,  and,  followed  by  four  Frenchmen,  advanced  into 
the  town.  An  audience  was  soon  given.  There  the  spokesman, 
the  Cayuga  Saonehiogwa,  the  warm  friend  of  (iaracontio,  an<l 
sharer  of  his  thoughts,  broke  in  publico  the  bonds  of  the  four  pris- 
oners, and  promised  the  freedom  of  the  rest,  assuring  the  French  (»f 
the  fiiendly  disposition  of  the  tribe.     Beginning  his  a<ldress,  he  ex- 


2U 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


It  > 


I, 


'fli 

i 

■ 

nn 

i 

plained  tlic  various  presents  :  at  the  fifth  he  said  :  ''  This  is  to  diaw 
the  Frenchman  to  us,  that  lie  may  return  to  his  mat,  whicii  uc 
still  pi'esi'rvo  at  (Janentaa,  where  the  house  is  yet  staiidinif  tiiat  hf 
had  when  he  dwelt  among  us.  J  lis  tire  has  not  been  extiiii^uishi  .1 
since  his  departure ;  and  his  fields,  which  we  have  tilled,  wait  hut 
liis  hand  to  gatiier  in  the  harvest;  he  will  make  peace  rtouii>h 
again  in  our  midst  by  his  stay,  Jis  he  had  banished  all  the  evils  of 
war.  An<l  to  cement  this  alliance  and  unite  us  so  closely  toget Ik  r 
that  the  demon,  jealous  of  our  happiness,  may  no  longer  be  able  to 
travei-se  our  good  designs,  we  beg  that  the  holy  women  (nuns) 
may  come  to  see  us,  both  those  who  take  care  of  the  sick,  and 
those  that  instruct  the  vouiiii;.  We  will  build  them  line  cabins, 
and  the  fairest  mats  in  the  country  are  destined  for  them.  Let 
them  not  fear  the  currents  or  rapids, — we  have;  banished  them  all, 
and  rendered  the  river  so  smooth,  that  they  could  themselves,  with- 
out pain  or  fear,  ply  the  light  paddle." 

Here  ho  paused,  and  his  tone  of  compliment  gave  way  to  one  of 
stern  resolve.  Raising  his  last  belt,  he  exclaimed  :  "  A  iJlack-gown 
must  come  with  mo,  otherwise  no  peace ;  and  on  his  coming  <1«- 
peud  the  lives  of  the  twenty  Frenchmen  at  Onondaga ;"  and  with 
these  words  he  placed  in  the  governor's  hands  a  leaf  of  the  book 
on  the  margin  of  which  the  captives  had  written  their  names. 

The  counsels  of  the  French  were  divided.  It  seemed  blind 
temerity  to  yield  to  this  demand ;  but,  influenced  by  the  accounts 
of  the  retunied  captives,  who  declared  that  the  women  were  unani- 
mous in  favor  of  Chnstianity,  that  Garacontio  was  entirely  on  tluii' 
side,  and  had  now  remained  only  to  prevent  any  counter-movt- 
ment  iu  his  absence,  the  council  left  the  final  detennination  to 
the  Viscount  d'Arjjenson,  who  asked  that  Father  Le  Movne  should 
meet  the  wishes  of  the  Indians.  That  intrepid  missionary,  for  the 
fifth  time,  girt  himself  to  visit  the  homes  of  the  Iroquois.  It  was, 
he  declared,  the  happiest  day  of  his  life.  Now,  at  last,  ho  seemed 
to  go,  never  to  return,  lor  his  steps  would  be  in  a  land  still  reeking 


t ' 


FRKXCIl   MISSIONS. 


245 


I 


with  tlie  blood  of  tii<i  Kivncli,  whciv  the  firos  were  scjin*'  oxtin- 
•  'iiI^IumI  around  wliicli  (lie  ( Jnoiidai^as  liad  danced  in  savaiie  tii- 
iiin])li  over  their  ex|)iriiiLf  prisoner. 

He  accord iniflv set  out  from  Montreal  on  the  21st  of  .lulv,  lUGi», 
a  liostaifo  in  their  liands;  and  thoui>h  attacked  l>v  the  ( hieidas, 
and  with  difficulty  rescued  from  their  tomahawks  and  scal|>inijf- 
knives,  reached  in  safety  the  mouth  of  the  Oswecfo,  where,  noi- 
withstanding?  the  negotiations,  tiiey  found  a  war-party  on  its  way 
to  attack  Montreal. 

Advancing  now  to  Onondaga,  they  were  met,  six  miles  from  the 
town,  by  Garacontie,  who  thus  came,  .ts  (;hieftain  never  came  be- 
for*',  to  greet  tlie  envoy  of  the  peace  of  whicii  he  had  been  the 
projector.     Le  Movno  entered   the   castle  of  the  mountain  tribe 

It'  ^ 

amid  the  joyful  shouts  of  tlie  peo|)le,  who  offered  liim  fruit,  and 
then  ran  on  to  stop  and  look  back  at  the  long-expected  Ondessoiik, 
whose  fearless  manner  won  them  all.  With  admirable  tact,  <  Jara- 
oontio  led  the  missionary  tirst  to  the  lodges  of  the  sachems  and 
chiefs  most  adverse  to  })eace,  and  then  conducted  him  to  his  own, 
already  titted  up  as  a  chajxil.  'Twas  ruile  indeed,  but  as  the  ]>ious 
missionary  adds,  "  C)ur  Lord,  who  deigns  to  veil  himself  under  the 
forms  of  bread  and  wine,  will  not  disdain  to  dwell  beneath  a  roof 
of  bark ;  and  tlie  woods  of  our  forests  are  not  less  precious  in  his 
eyes  than  the  cedars  of  Lebanon,  since  where  ho  is,  there  is  para- 
dise." 

On  the  12th  of  August,  Le  Moyne  was  solemnly  received  at  the 
mission-house  by  the  sachems  of  Onondaga,  Cayuga,  and  Seneca, 
and  on  their  ratifying  the  acts  of  the  embassy,  delivered  his  pres- 
ents, concluded  peace,  and  m'ged  them  to  embrace  Christianity,  of 
which  he  gave  a  summary.  To  this  they  replied  in  another  ses- 
sion ;  and  then  the  speaker  announced  that  seven  prisoners  from 
Cinondaga,  and  two  from  Cayuga,  should  be  immediately  sent  with 
<'aracontie,  and  that  the  rest  should  return  in  the  spring  with 
<  >n<lessonlc.   Remonstrance  failing,  Le  Moyne  was  compelled  to  sub- 


246 


AMiatlC.VN   CATIIUMC    MiSSluNrf. 


mit  to  tills  jirrnnij^'nu'nt,  nnd  r;ilinly  pn-parctl  lor  iiis  wintt-r 
inissioii  witli  iIk!  iviiiainiiiLT  captivus.  (Jaraooiitio  set  out;  and 
thoiiLrli  tli«5  ()iioii(la;L?.'i  party  met  l>y  Lo  Moyii''  lia<l,  in  Atij^nM, 
miller  Outft'oiiliati,  ravai^c*!  tin;  NJaii'l  of  .Moiitical,  ainl  sljiin. 
aiiioiiLj  otlK'i"s,  the  ostiinaUlo  Sulpitiaii,  .lames  he  Malt  re,  aii<l  tin 
Mohawks,  in  <')(;(( ihi-r,  killed  another  of  the  same  eoii<^ree;atioii. 
Mr.  William  Viu^iial,  the  oldest  secular  ]»riest  in  the  eoloiiy,  llh' 
<  )Moii(laixa  orator  was  wi'll  focimvcmI,  restored  his  captives,  ami  oh- 
t.'iiiied  the  liberation  of  several  of  his  countrymen.'" 

^h'anwhile  Father  I.e  >royno  was  busily  i-mployed  in  Western 
New  York.  In  his  poor  chapel,  adoruod  with  a  cross  carried  <»ti 
from  Isle  Orleans,  and  re<leemed  by  (Jjiracontie,  French,  Huron, 
and  Iroquois  assembled  around  the  same  altar,  each  cliantin_"  in 
liis  own  toncfUe  the  words  of  life  and  truth.  I^ver  on  the  niaicli, 
villairo  ''ift«'i"  villaufe  received  liis  luissionarv  visits,  nn<l  evervwhen; 
his  presence  was  n-ladly  welcomed,  lie  was  not,  liowever.  tree 
from  dani^er.  I  )reams  ruled  the  land,  and  their  fultilmeiit,  often 
ridiculous,  was  sometimes  eiiminal,  and  dann^erous  to  others.  (  hie 
brave,  dreaminijj  that  he  wore  Ondessotik's  cassock,  burst  into  the 
hut,  and  bid  him  strip.  On  another  occasion  all  the  sacdienis 
were  re([uired  to  check  another  who  burst  in  to  destroy  the  cruci- 
fix on  liis  altar.  Father  J.e  Moyne  was  there;  but  ho  bore  the 
name  of  Jocfues,  avIio  had  loved  the  cross,  an<l  laid  down  his  lite 
for  it  l>v  the  banks  of  the  Mohawk,  and  he  would  not  see  it  dis- 
honored.  Sprini^im^  between  the  altar  and  the  madman,  he  barod 
his  head  for  the  blow,  and  would  have  fallen  had  not  the  mur- 
derer been  cauifht  back,  as  his  tomahawk  glistened  in  the  air.f 

*  Rcl.  ICfiO-l,  last  ohaptcr;  Kol.  IfitH--'.,  eh.  ix.  :  Vijcr.  I'etit  rciristiv,  in 
4°,  MS.  For  Le  Maitre,  see  Faillou,  Vie  ile  Margaret  IJour^oin-,  i.  1.'': 
Id.,  Vie  dc  M.  Olifi-,  ii.  11"..  His  iinirilorcr,  Ontn-lionati.  or  lloaiiclcron, 
booainc  ft  <,'liristiaii,  aiiil  died  at  tiie  Mountain  of  Montreal.  For  \'i'_'!ial,  m-c 
Faillon,  N'iu  de  M,  JJour^'eoys,  i.  1A4. 

t  Lc  Moync  was  at  fir»t  called  Wane,  but  ou  .Jogue'.s  death  took  his  naiii'', 
Ondcssonk. 


FUENCIl    MISSIONS. 


247 


his  wiiitti 
i  out ;  and 
ill  Aut,ni»t, 
,'iii4  sliiiii, 
r»',  aii'l  tli<' 
!i<_rr('ij:ati«>ii. 
colony,  tli«' 
I'os,  n\v\  oli- 

\n  W»'<t<Mii 

carrifil  oil 

K-li,  Huron. 

I'liantiii  •■  ill 

the  inarcli. 

evcryNvlnif 

owcvor.  tVt'f 

linciit,  ot'li'ii 

tlu'is.     On.' 

irst  iiit<»  tli«' 

ho  sachciii* 

y  the  cruci- 

bore  tlie 

own  his  lift' 

see  it  (li-^- 

in,  Ijo  l»;n<'l 

tjjc  niiir- 

\\o  air.f 

roirintri'.  in 
oo_\  ',  i.  !•"'  '  • 
Iloaiiilnn'ii. 
S'IlmkiI. 

uk  liis  naiii'-. 


In  this  instanct!  he  oscajK-d.  llow.vi'r,  the  sri'iics  ot"  diunkm 
li.'t  hourly  luft'oiv  jiis  fv«'s  (tor  1  Mitch  traiK-rs  flooded  tlu*  ('antt)ns 
uilii  intuxifatini;  rujUoi's),  inadu  him  accept  with  plcasuin  an  in- 
vitation to  vihit  Caviiii'a,  then  ravaged  !»v  an  epidennc.  To<'eth«'r 
with  a  yoiiii^f  surgeon,  ho  ministered  to  the  sick,  and  saved  many. 
A  month  was  too  short  for  him  to  confess  and  console  the  llinoii 
women,  bapti/o  their  children,  and  instruct  them  all.  (Jloriitu> 
women  1  their  faith  was  luulimmed,  althoU!ji;h  tiiey  had  so  loni; 
had  no  chapel  but  theii*  master's  hut;  no  priest  but  their  con- 
science. 

Tearing  himself  at  last  from  those  fervent  Christians,  he  re- 
tunu'd  to  <  )nondaifa,  and  found  <Jaraconti6  arrived,  more  friendly 
than  ever  to  ilie  I'Venoh  cause,  'j'he  <'hi».'t'tain  soon  batlled  the 
advocates  of  war,  who  had,  in  his  abseni'«>,  i-ven  plotted  I^o 
•Moyno's  death,  and  lit;  now  prepared  a  party  to  conduct  the 
missionary  and  remaining  captives  to  the  Si.  Lawrence.  The 
mission  of  Le  Moync  was  now  (hawing  to  a  close.  JIo  had 
preached  to  captives  of  ten  different  nations;  he  had,  during  the 
prevalence  of  t lie  small-pox,  baptized  two  hundred  infants,  most  ot 
whom  soon  died,  and  had  won  several  adults  to  the  faith,  besides 
miuisterinir  to  the  old  Christians.  AmctULf  the  adults  he  was  otlen 
met  with  old  calumnies.  Some,  however,  hearkenerl  to  the  truth. 
An  Illinois  ca}>tive,  dying  of  a  horril)]e  ulcer,  visited  by  the 
r.ilher,  asked  him — "What  must  1  do  to  go  to  the  heaven  of 
which  you  spak?"  "  l«'.'lieve."  "Well,  1  believe."  "I'ray.'; 
"  Well,  I  will  pray ;  but  I  know  not  how.  (^'ome  and  teach  me, 
tor  I  cannot  go  to  thee."  JTe  was  regularly  instru<;ted.  Faith 
so<m  changed  him.  No  min-mur  or  com[)laint  left  his  lips.  At 
last,  fully  instructe<l,  he  solicited  and  received  the  sacrament  of 
baptism. 

During  his  stay  at  Onondaga,  Christians,  especially  women, 
came  frequently  from  other  cantons  under  various  pretexts,  and 
thus  profited  by  his  ministry.     Som(}  even,  by  their  piety  and 


248 


AMKKIOAN   CATHOLIC   MISSION'S. 


virtuo,  won  tht'ir  mistr«'ss<'s,  autl  l»iuii<;lit  tli.',-  «>  tl>o  uiiHHioiiarv 
to  n-crivc  instruction. 

FalluT  Im  Moyno  l»a»l  ii«»t  set  out  iVoui  <.^uolM't!  witli  .lU'  iult-ii- 
tion  of  bf<;iimin<^  u  luissioii,  ami  his  scanty  supply  of  wine,  h.- 
foresaw,  >v(»ulil  soon  i»c  cxliausti'd.  'lo  !»»'  aMu  t<»  say  mass  daily, 
lie  <lisj)atcli«'(l  an  Iiwlian  to  Albany,  and  loadily  ohtaiiu'd  of  tli  • 
friendly  Hollanders  a  bottlo  of  wine  for  tlio  use  of  the  altar. 

At  last  the  j»re)»arations  for  his  dt-parturo  wore  completed,  aiit 
all  were  ready  to  depart.  Hut  one  was  destined  to  become  a 
martvr  of  coniuijfal  chastity.  llefusin<;  to  take  an  Indian  wife  at 
the  command  of  his  master,  ho  was  savai^ely  butchered  bv  tin' 
cruel  C>nondai,^'i.  The  rest,  to  the  nund>er  of  eii,diteen,  now  set 
out  with  Le  Movne  and  an  escoil.  On  the  last  day  of  Au«j;iist 
they  reached  Saut  St.  Louis,  and  were  soon  after  welcomed  by  a 
volley  from  the  walls  of  Montreal.* 

This  eTuled  the  hT«|uois  missions  of  Father  Simon  Lo  M(.»yiii'. 
Thouijh  named  once  more  to  his  old  post,  he  never  airain  visiie<l 
the  tribes  of  central  New  York.  The  voice  of  C)ndessonk  never 
aifain  called  them  to  the  truth.  Companion  of  Ihcbeuf,  Joixues, 
Garnier,  and  i  )aniel  on  the  Huron  mission  as  early  as  1038,  he 
had  ever  and  justly  been  dear  to  the  Indian  and  the  white  man 
for  his  firmness,  intrepidity,  an<l  zeal.  Successor  of  Jo/i^ues,  whoso 
name  he  bore,  lie  founded  the  Iroijuois  missions  planned  by  the 
fomier,  visited  almost  cveiy  village  in  the  cantons,  and  was  known 
^nd  respected  in  all.  Now,  worn  out  by  liis  long  missionary 
laboi-s,  lie  sank  under  the  weight  of  years  and  toil ;  and,  after  an 
illness  of  nine  days,  expired  by  a  most  holy  death  at  the  Cap  de 
la  Madeleine,  November  24,  1CG5,  having  just  completed  his 
sixty-first  ye.ir.f  Ilis  death  was  mourned  as  a  public  loss  by  the 
French  colony,  and  tlu^  Iro(|nois  sent  presents  to  wipe  away  the 
tears  shed  for  his  death. 

*  Rcl.  lGGl-2. 

t  Journal  Jcsuito.    I  fitul  nowlicre  niiy  details  as  to  his  birth  or  early  ''f*-*- 


n 


FUKNCIC    MISSIONS. 


241) 


niisi^ioiKiry 
I  ihu  intcu- 

)(    wilH',    ll-' 

mass  <lailv, 
iiu'd  of  the 
iiltar. 

i}>lt't«M.I,  aii'l 
1  l)('coui»'  ;i 
liaii  wite  al 
«'iv<l  l>y  tli<' 
'cn,  now  st.'t 
'  of  Auiiusl 
iruiUecl  1>V  a 

I  Lo  Moviii'. 
ijaiii  visiii-il 
isonk  ucvt  r 

Ut",  Joi^lKS. 

IS  1038,  Ik; 

white  man 

^ues,  wlutse 

lied  by  tlio 

was  known 

missionary 

k1,  at'tei-  an 

he  Cap  do 

pletecl  hi.s 

OSS  by  the 

awav  tilt' 


or  early  lifo. 


The  work  ot'  <Jaracuntie  was  not  jis  yrt  (le>tint'<l  !••  !»•  crowiifil 
with  sueci'ss.  His  iai)ors  jia<i  |irorur»M|  uiily  iln-  trmporary  and 
almost  unint«'n«lfi|  mission  «»t'  I'allifr  !.«•  .Nbiync,  ami  on  tin-  tl*- 
partiire  of  that  missionary,  iIk-  war  broke  out  antw.  No\n,  Iiow- 
.■vtM",  the  tide  of  battle  tnrn<Ml.  With  villaLrt"<  ra\ai;t'd  by  tiie 
-mall-pox,  tilt'  eaiitoiis  wcn-  not  in  a  jH»sitioii  to  hold  their  own 
atjaiiist  the  many  adversaries  whom  tiny  h.-ul  raiscil  np  around 
tlioni.  The  .Nbihawks  and  <  >n('idas  hail  Imm-u  wor>ti'd  by  tin* 
liitlierto  despised  ( "hijipeways.  The  stout  Conestoirues*  pressed 
lianl  on  the  west»'rn  cantons,  and  scalj»ed  the  braves  of  tlu;  league 
at  their  very  ijates.  In  this  dilemma  they  turned  to  the  I'Veneh, 
aii'l,  in  a  new  embassy,  sf»ni;ht  their  allian<'e,  otfeiinij  thi'ir 
(hniijhters  as  hostatfes.  Ihit  while  in  the  colony,  the  astonished 
deputies  heard  reports  of  the  coinini;  of  a  lait^e  French  force,  in- 
tended not  to  aid  but  to  crush  them.f  Kven  the  scattered  Alju'on- 
qu ins  resumed  courae^e,  and  cut  otl'  Iro<|Uois  parties;  but,  Chris- 
tians now,  they  did  not  perpetrate  on  tludr  prisotuM-s  tho  fiendish 
cruelties  which  had  In-en  use<l  bv  them  before  their  conversion. 
•  livinnf  the  captives  a  missionary,  and  time  for  instruction  and  pre- 
paration, they  U,'d  them  out  an<l  shot  them.  The  Ilurons,  still 
partly  ]>aijans,  seeincf  tliis,  exclaimed — "  'Tis  ufood.  When  we  arc 
all  Christians,  we  shall  do  so  too.''| 

Hops  of  peace,  and  conse«piently  of  missions,  wero  not  there- 
fore wanting.  (Jaracontio,  at  ( )non<lai]fa,  still  labored  to  secure 
h<»th.  Once  more  he  befjan  to  rescue  French  captives,  and  direct 
the  little  body  of  Christians  at  Onondaga,  as  far  as  his  authority 

*  This  i3  the  tribe  onlleil  by  tlie  Ilurons  Aiidastcs,  AiidastniriK/s,  nnd  (ian- 
dastogues.  They  arc  tho  ('o!iostoi,'iios  of  tiie  pjiirlisii  ot'  New  York,  tho 
Miinnui  of  tlie  Swedes,  and  in  all  probability  tho  Susinieliannaa  of  Mary- 
liiiid.  (lallatin,  wh'>in  Bancroft  and  (J'Caihiu'han  f()lh)W,  erroneously  placed 
thiin  on  tho  waters  of  the  Uhio.  The  Kelations  and  Hressani  dcscribo  their 
l">ition  accurately,  and  make  them  close  neijfhljors  of  tho  Swedes.  Seo 
lluhn. 

+  Uel,  1662-3,  ch.  iv.  t  Id.  ch.  vi.  vii. 

11* 


250 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


and  wisdom  enabled  liiin.  The  oldest  Frenchman  acted  as  cate- 
chist,  intoned  tlie  prayers,  and,  in  cjise  ot'dancfer,  baptized  intants. 
Fortunately,  their  moral  character,  far  from  beintj  a  reproacli,  ijavo 
new  dignity,  in  the  eyes  of  the  savages,  to  the  Christian  name. 

Iroquois  were  scattered  through  the  colony,  as  prisonei"s,hostaLr('s 
or  envoys.  Several  of  these  were  converted.  Amonjj  these  w;i>  a 
Seneca  chief,  name<l  Sachiendowan,  whose  conversion  was  ii<it 
unmarked  by  j)rodigy.  Taken  sick  at  Montreal,  he  had  been  iv- 
'^•eived  into  the  hospital  and  carefully  nursed  by  the  nuns.  Al- 
louez,  a  missionary  on  his  way  to  the  west,  endeavored  to  disabux- 
liim  of  the  fables  of  his  tribe  ;  but  his  etlbrts  failed,  and  the  chi<t" 
turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  wor<]s  of  the  gospel.  The  missionary  iv- 
solved  to  appeal  to  heaven.  On  the  eve  of  St.  Ignatius  he  said  a 
mass  for  him,  the  imns  all  joining  their  prayers  to  his  to  obtain  the 
mercv  of  heaven  on  the  beiiiixhted  savage.  A  sudden  chan<^'  took 
place  :  the  tierce  wolf  was  changed  into  a  gentle  lamb:  he  asked 
instruction,  and  after  being  grounded  in  the  points  necessaiy  tur 
salvation,  was  ba})tized,  and  died  most  fervently  and  piously,* 

In  the  spring  of  1004,  Garacontio  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  de- 
cree of  the  council  for  another  embassy;  the  object  of  which  was 
to  restore  the  French  prisoners  and  solicit  peace.  This  delegation 
surpassed  all  that  had  preceded  it  for  the  number  and  beauty  of 
the  presents.  No  reason  was  given  for  their  sudden  desire  for 
peace ;  but,  as  usual,  they  asked  for  missionaries,  especially  ilie 
Senecas,  who  wislied  a  IMack-srown  for  their  Christian  villaue.  bo 
Moyne,  still  alive,  otfered  to  go;  but  the  French  cautiously  de- 
layed, and  often  deceived  by  treaties  which  the  sachems  could  not 
or  would  not  keep,  avoided  any  terms;  although  they  acknowl- 
edged and  appreciated  the  personal  merit  of  Garacontio,  and 
could  not  but  feel  grateful  for  his  oft-repeated  eftbrts  in  the  cause 
of  peace  and  harmony. 


K 


*  Rel.  1663-4,  ch.  vi. 


FRENCH   MISaiuNS. 


251 


;te(l  as  oalo- 
izt'd  inlaiits. 
iroach,  ijavo 
111  name, 
rs,  liostai;t">. 
tln'sc  wa>  ;i 
on  was  I  ml 

uul  Ik'OII  Ir- 

iiiins.     Al- 
to (lisahiix- 
1(1  tlio  cliicf 
issionarv  iv- 
us  he  said  a 

0  obtain  the 
L'haiii^e  tnuk 
.) :  he  askfil 
lecessary  I'  "i" 
ouslv* 
lininij  a  dt- 

wliicli  was 
>  (.leloijatiuii 
d  beauty  of 

1  desire  for 
lecially  ilic 

Uaov.  1.0 
itiously  de- 

COUlil  iM't 

aeknowl- 
)n(ie,  and 
1  the  cans.' 


Another  embassy,  however,  arrived  in  Aui^ust  to  annomicc  thai 
all  hut  the  Oneidas  sought  peace.  Tiiis  led  to  an  agreeuh'nt  for 
an  exchange  of  prisonei"s,  and  soon  after  tiie  unwearied  (iaraeontio 
set  (»ut  with  the  French  c;aptive.s,  but  his  party  was  unfortunately 
attacked  by  the  Algon<juins,  and,  alter  severe  lo>s,  compelled  to 
jvturn.  'Jliis  for  a  time  susj^-ndcd  all  further  attempts  of  the 
OiiDiidagas. 

The  Cayuga  chit-f  had  also  lieaded  a  delegati(»n  of  his  tribe, 
and  as  earnestly  solicitetl  the  IJishop  ami  Superior  to  send  mis- 
.^iuiiaries  and  nuns  to  his  canton  ;*  but  lie,  tt)o,  had  failed. 

Tile  French  government  had  now  determined  to  humble  the 
lri>(|Uois,  and  no  longer  leave  Canada  exposed  to  their  pretended 
treaties  of  peace,  almost  always  violated  as  soon  as  made.  'I'he 
Marquis  de  Tracy  was  sent  out  tVom  France  with  a  regiment  of 
truups,  a  number  of  coloni>ts,  and  (juantities  of  live-stock,  then 
much  needed  in  Canada.  <>n  seeing  them  arrive  the  Iroquois  in 
and  near  the  settlements  instantly  di>a}»peared,  and  sj)rcad  i«'rror 
through  the  cantons  by  their  exaggerated  reports;  and  the  Cayuga 
colony,  formed  at  Quinto  Jiay  by  that  canton,  hard  pressed  by  the 
L'unestogues,  gave  themselves  up  as  lost. 

I)e  Tracy  immediately  erected  three  forts  on  the  Soiel  Jiiver  to 
check  the  Mohawks  and  Oneidas,  and  preparetl  to  carry  th»'  war 
into  their  country.  Satistied  with  the  impression  ]>roduced,  he  was 
disposed  to  listen  to  the  proposals  of  peace  nuide  by  the  western 
cantons.  When,  therelbre,  Garacontio  arri'ed  in  December  with 
dt|»uties  of  Onondaga,  Cayuga,  and  Seneca,  declaring  their  peace- 
ful intentions,  he  was  graciously  received.  In  his  address  he  spoko 
^\ith  modest  dignitv  of  the  services  which  lie  had  rendered  the 
Ireiich,  and  by  a  present  wiped  away  the  teal's  shed  for  the  death 
of  <Jndessonk,  the  lamented  L«i  Moyne.  Acknowledging  and  a{>- 
pivciating  his  merit,  the  Viceroy,  a.s  it  were,  on  his  account,  granted 


*  Eel.  1663-4,  ch.  \ Hi.    Jesuit  Journal. 


252 


AMKUICAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


peaces  to  tlu!  wi'stom  <':int«nis,  t'xchani^od  prisoncis,  aud,  in  :'.<.• 
conhxrwc,  with  tlioir  request,  promised  tlu'in  two  inissionarics.* 

Lc'*'t  now  to  war  <m  llie  .Mohawk  and  <  )n<'iilas  alono,  wlio,  un- 
dismavcd  1)V  the  det"e('ti<»n  ot"  the  western  eanions,  still  kept  ihr 
field,  De  Tracy  sent  an  «'Xj>editiou  under  IN-  (.'ourc«'llo  late  in  tin- 
year  IGOS,  attended  by  Katleix  an<l  AlbaiU'l  as  chaplains,  which, 
traversiiiiif  tli<!  country  on  snow-sln)es,  hursi  on  the  Mohawks;  hut 
warned  ot'  his  approach,  tin*  savai^ts  had  tied,  and  he  tounil  only 
their  «leserted  villa«ifes. 

In  consecpience  of  this  hlow  the  wily  <  >nei<las  sent  ambassadors 
in  rlune,  afid,  after  receivinuj  a  fa\orabIe  answer  trom  Father  <  jiau- 
monot,  th<>  delegates  set  out  with  Father  Heschefer  and  two  French- 
men, apparently  to  indiice  the  Mohawks  and  <)neida8  to  send 
ileputies  to  a  ifeneral  council  in  the  followini;  month.f  Hut  tin  y 
had  scan'cly  <U'j)arted,  when  news  arrived  (^f  the  murder  of  several 
French  ollicers  by  a  ])arty  of  Mohawks.  On  this,  Father  Heschefer 
was  recalled,  the  (Mieidas  seized,  and  every  preparation  for  war  n- 
sumetl.  The  nei,n)tiations  with  the  other  cantons  contiimed,  and  on 
the  31st  of  Au<,aist,  in(i<i,  ambassa<lors  from  every  one,  "lincteinis 
inaudituin,"  writer  I'ather  !.»•  Mercier,  the  Superior,  in  his  ,louni:il, 
met  in  the  park  of  the  .IcNiiits  to  confer  with  the  Viceroy  and  <io\- 
ernor  of  ( 'anada.  I'eace  was  herf  «'i»iicluded  with  all  but  the. Mn- 
hawks;  an<l  as  the  rayuu;a  <hief  earnestly  renewed  his  request  for 
missionaries.  Fathers  Jan»es  Fremin  and  l\'ter  Katieix  were  chosen 
to  u^o  with  him,  the  forna-r  apparently  already  a  laborer  among  tho 
half-tribe  at  C^uinte.|. 

The  Frencdi  were  now  left  to  cope  with  the  Mohawks  alone.  l>e 
Tracy  resolved  t»)  }iujiish  them  in  person,  and  prepared  his  troops 
for  a  new  expedition.  The  S»  neca  <  )n?i<)nkenritewi  in  vain  en- 
deavored to  avert  the  blow  by  belts  to  Lc  Mercier  and  Ciiaumonot, 


*  New  York  Coloniul  DooiuuentH,  iii.  123. 

t  .louriial  ofttif  .Ifsiiit  SujR'rior. 

X  Now  York  ('oloniul  l>oi'iunciits,  iii.  13»>;  Jottnial  of  the  Superior 


^i0!^rssf 


FRENCH    MISS10N8. 


253 


but  tile  niissioiiaiics  couM  not  iiitrrt'ci'c.  'Hk'  \  iccnty,  with  a  fono 
of  1200  wliitcs  an<l  I0(/  Indians,  t'litcnMl  the  Mohawk  ooimtrv, 
burnt  the  villaufcs,  ami  canicd  oil' i»i- ilotiuvcd  tlu-ir  «'xt«'nsiv('str)n's 
ot'  |)rovisi(»n.*  This  coMUM'ilfil  iIh'iii  to  ask  sincerely  tui"  ptaee. 
ami  after  Po 'IVacv's  (Iriiaiture  this  was  y-iaiited  hv  < 'overnor  <le 
rourcelle.  Like  the  w«'stein  cantons,  they  soliciieil  missiuiiaiies, 
and  jHotiL'ssoil  a  desire  to  einhrac»'  Christianity. 


CIIAPTKK    XIII. 

IKOQt  OIS    MISSION' — (COMINIKD.) 

IVri'Ml  of  peace— Mi^^i<lns  iirojictcil  nrid  Jiopiin  in  all  tljr  cimtoii-*— Mission  nt  Quintc 
IJiiy— Tho  Suliiitiiins-  latin  r  rmniii  .■*(iit  to  tin'  M'llmwk  with  Iiriiyivs  niul  I'icrron 
—Mission  foiunk'il— Zral  of  Huron  Chrlslinns— Convorls  to  Hip  faltli---l{ruyas  founds 
Uii-  (*nei(lu  niioloti— (litrnitr  rf>torrs  tiial  of  onomliu;:!.  is  joIiumI  \i\  Mild  liinl  <lo  Cm- 
lioil,  ami  founds  that  of  ('.tyu;.'H— Frcniln.  in  tlio  wi-st,  loiimls  liu-  mlxsion  of  tho 
!<onfoas— Ton  version  <tf  Mary  (iannoakteiia  at  Oneida— Slio  founds  tho  Christian 
village  of  Laprairie. 

A  puoFOi'xn  peace  now  reigned  in  the  valleys  <  \  Las^fi  Ontario 
and  its  outlet.  K.tr  th(»  first  time  in  inunv  \t  :\!h  lo  virpai'tv 
stoalthily  traversed  the  forest,  or  h:rked  aro'i- d  tlio  St.  La^.rence. 
The  b'aves  of  the  five  cantons  turned  th^'*  anns  to  tr.e  south 
and  west.  Such  a  moment  was  one  which  tlli.  .1  the  heart  of  Lo 
Mt'icier  with  rejoicini;  and  hope.  Attain  Sup^.ior  of  the  missions, 
he  saw  that  now  at  last  the  InH|Uois  mission,  s*  often  jtrojecled,  so 
often  apj)arently  foun<le(|,  was  now  at  last  to  hej^in ;  and  ho  ex- 
ulted to  think  that  the  ^n*at  object  of  his  order  in  CaJie.l  was  to 
be  accouiplisiiod  in  his  day. 


*  New  York  rol^'iiinl  l>u(.ntncnt.'».  iii.  13'). 


254 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


Tlie  Jesuits,  always  eagor  to  christianize  thc^  Iroquois,  liad  I 


De- 


1    ■ 

i 

i 


ll 


held  with  j)k'asur*'  a  Cayuija  colony  lornied  at  t^^iw^o  l>ay,  north 


of  Lake  Ontj 


(1  in  lOGG 


Fath 


th 


tario;  and  in  loou  some  ratners,  anion^'  tncni  appa- 
rently Freniin,  were  sent  to  labor  in  the  new  village,  soine  of  whose 
denizens  were  already  Chnstians.  The  complete  peac^tJow  estali- 
lisht'd  ^vith  ail  the  cnmons,  opened  a  wider  field  in  the  cantons 
themselves;  and  the  .h-suits  resio-nod  the  (^uinte  mission  to  the 
Seminary  of  St.  Siilpiee  at  Montreal,  which,  having  lost  two  of  its 
mend»ers  l>y  the  han<ls  of  the  lr()<ju«»i>,  now  sought  to  return  evil 
for  good  by  laboring  for  the  conversion  of  the  nation  which  it  had 
espoused  in  blood.  Two  mendx-rs  of  their  congregation,  young 
Levites,  aspiring  to  the  priesthood,  Claude  Trouvo  and  Francis 
d<'  Salagnac  de  Fenelon,  arrived  in  June,  1007.  'J'hese  were  in- 
stantly selected  to  begin  the  tirst  Iroquois  mission  of  their  congre- 
gation at  C^uinte.  After  a  year's  delay,  doubtless  spent  in  gather- 
ing a  knowletlge  of  the  language,  these  two  young  clergymen,  t'lill 
of  zeal  and  devoteduess,  were  or<lained  bv  tin?  sainted  Montmorencv 
de  Laval,  first  IJishop  of  (Quebec,  and  repaired  to  (^uinto.  On  the 
28th  of  October,  1008,  thev  reached  it  and  bcL'^an.  their  labors,  to 
which  we  shall  elsewdiere  allude. 

Meanwhile  tin-  Jesuits  hatl  again  advanced  into  New  Yoik. 
When  all  the  negotiations  of  the  treaty  were  concluded,  prepara- 
tions were  made  to  renew  the  missions,  commeiicinof  in  the  Mo- 
hawk  valley,  where  Jogues  had  led.  the  way.  For  this  great  woik 
were  selected  Father  James  Fremiti,  a  missionary  of  St.  Marv's  of 
(Jaiientaa,  FatluM*  James  l»ruyas,  whose  name  is  indissolubly  con- 
netted  with  Indian  philology,  and  Father  John  Pierron.*  In 
July,  1007,  these  three  set  out  with  some  Mohawk  hunters  for 
their  destination,  but  were  delayed  for  a  time  at  Fort  St.  Anne,  a 
sk'onghold  recently  erected  at  the  mouth  of  Lake  Champlain,  I'V 


*  Not  Andrew  Pcarron,  as  lie  is  often  ealled.  lie  must  not  be  confoiuukd 
with  :i  eonteiiiporaneous  Father  I'ierson,  of  wlioni  \\c  phnll  have  occasi"!! 
'.i>  sj'oak  in  the  <Hta\va  mission. 


i 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


255 


is,  had  l)c- 
l>ay,  noitli 
hem  iii»ii:i- 
e  of  wliose 
W>w  estah- 
10  cantons 
>ion  to  the 
[  two  of  its 
ivtuni  t'vil 
iiich  it  liad 
ion,  youu;!; 
ikI  Francis 
!se  were  iii- 
leir  oonoTf- 
t  in  a,-atlnr- 
'LTvnuMi,  lull 
)ntinoivn('v 
e.    On  the 
hibors,  to 

S'ew  Yorli. 
(1,  prcpara- 
n  tlie  Mo- 
great  work 
.  Mary's  of 
)hibiy  0011- 
rron.*  hi 
uinters  for 
t.  Annt\  H 
niplain,  I'V 

coiitbiiniKd 
ivc  occusl'>'.; 


are].>:*.t  that  tlic  intervening  rjround  was  heset  by  war-parties  of 
the  Moliegans,  who  then  for  a  moment  kept  the  Mohawk  in  awe. 
At  last,  liowever,  tliey  launched  iheir  canoes,  and  safely  reached 
the  head  of  the  lake,  a  place  noted  for  storms  ot'ten  fatal  to  the 
Indian,  and  hence  the  object  of  his  reverence.  In  their  wild  the- 
o«Tony,  they  peopled  the  bottom  of  the  lake  with  a  faiiy  race, 
whose  constant  toil  it  was  to  cut  ifun-tlints  and  scatter  them  on 
tlie  shore.  In  their  ^jisure  hours  these  elfs  skim  over  the  water 
in  lleet  canoes,  but  disapp(\ar  when  seen  by  mortal  eye;  and  when 
their  chief  descends,  the  lake,  at  his  anger,  is  lashed  to  storms,  and 
the  curious  mortal  perishes. 

Leaving  this  spot,  they  soon  came  upon  Mohawk  scouting  par- 
tics  whom  the  fear  of  a  new  P'rench  invasion  kept  in  the  tleld. 
K.'joiced  at  the  appearance  of  the  missionaries,  the  best  ])roof  of 
jicacetul  dispositions,  these  parties  joined  that  of  the  embassy,  and 
all  soon  reached  the  chief  village,  (•andawague,  the  spot  where 
•legues  had  been  put  to  death.  The  missionaries  were  received 
hctbre  the  village  uith  the  usual  ceremonies,  and  conducted  to  the 
I'MJge  of  the  chief  sachem. 

Although  the  Mohawks  had  been  foremost  in  their  crueliv  to 
tlieir  prisonei's,  two-thin  Is  of  this  village  consisted  of  Huron  and 
Algonquin  captive'^.  Many  of  these  were  Christians,  and  though 
so  long  bereft  of  all  spiritual  gui<iiih<i\  ha<I  reujained  steadfast  in 
tlu'  faith.  Father  Le  MoyU'  was  liie  oiiiy  one  who  had  ever 
reached  them,  after  the  captivity  of  Father  JogU(?s,  that  was  really 
eiialtled  (o  minister  to  them.  O^  their  fervor,  we  mav  iudn-e  from 
the  tact,  that  in  winter  several  of  them  swam  two  rivei"s  in  order 
to  meet  the  missionary,  and  approach  the  sacrament  of  jtenance. 
In  their  secret  assemblies,  these  faithiul  Christians  encouraged  one 
another  to  persevere  in  faith,  constancy,  and  courage,  and  heaveidy 
tavors  increased  tlieir  zeal  and  fervor.*     Among  the  women  espe- 

♦  Kcl.  K-^f'-Loh.  vi. 


256 


AMKKICAN    CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


cijilly,  the  spiiit  of  reliii:i()n  was  inaiiit;iiii('(l.  Several  wi'iv  horoic 
cxaiiipli's  ot'  ( 'liristiaii  viiliic.  <  >ii('  llu-rc  was,  wlio.xc  luni^  captivifv 
liad  Im'<'Ii  passed,  like  'ri»l»i;i«;  mI"  (J(1,  ill  visitiiit^  the  sick,  in  Kiiry- 
iiit;  tlio  (lra«l,  ill  staiidiiiLT  l»v  tiic  i>all«*t,  and  still  iii(»rc'  ufiu'rouslv 
hy  tilt*  stako  of  the  dyiiiu^  ('a|»tiv«',  siii^LTt'stiiii;  fcrvfiit  prayer,  ainl 
eiK'ouraiifiiiijf  tliciii  t<>  die  as  Cliiistiaiis.  Slie  was  not  deprived  ot 
her  rewaid.  lOnaMed  at  last  to  retmn  to  (^hieln'C,  she  was  (Muellv 
murdered  and  inanu;led  in  her  liut  l>y  two  Mohawk  deputies  wiioiii 
she  liad  hosj)itahly  received.* 

Such  were  the  first  ohjeets  of  Father  Freinin's  zeal  after  liis 
'•uMie  reception.  IL;  opened  his  cainpaijjfu  of  hope  hy  the  hap- 
tism  of  ten  infants;  hut  while  thus  enrolliiio-  the  vount>:  in  the 
Hock  of  Clirist,  a  ])iteous  spectacle  met  his  •ye,  and  cnlled  uj>  nil 
his  sympathy.  Tiie  ^^•hei^ans,  dashinif  down  upon  tho  village, 
scalped  a  wretched  sijuaw  at  the  very  gates.  Fremin  was  tme  of 
\hxh  first  to  hasten  to  her,  eau;er  *o  save  a  soul,  where  life  was  in 
8o  great  peril ;  but  she  spurned  his  offers  Four  times  .she  turned 
away  in  scorn.  lUit  the  prayer  of  them  that  believe  is  powerful: 
she  is  changed,  bapti/ed,  and  dies  a  fervent  Christian,  with  a 
prayer  for  mercy  on  her  lips.  In  tin;  throe  days  spent  by  tlio 
missionaries  in  this  town,  they  began  to  see  some  of  those  fruits 
which  wi'ie  aflerw.ards  reaped  in  tliis  canton,  hitherto  tlie  nio>t 
deadly  enemy  of  the  faith,  and  almost  the  only  one  whose  hands 
had  l)een  imbrued  in  the  blood  <»f  missionaiies,  nine  of  them 
having  Utu  .slain  by  braves  of  the  Mohawk  valley.  Heaven 
could  \U'  longer  resist  the  voice  of  their  blood.  J ogues,  Daniel, 
JJrebeuf,  Lalemant,  ( lander,  Buteux,  Liegeois,  Garreau,  and  Vig- 
nal, — all  interceded  for  iha  i>enightf'd  men  who  had  given  them 
th<'  martyr's  crown. 

Here  in  this  very  town  of  (Iandawagu6,f  wet  with  the  blood  of 
Jogues,  (loupil,  and  Lalande,  and  in  the  very  cabin  where  they 


•  Kel.  16(V2-3.  ch.  iv, 


■f  Now  Cnutfhnawngu. 


FKEN'CJI    MISSIONS. 


257 


ere  lieroic 
r  captivity 
V.  ill  l>iiry- 
i^fiu'rously 
(Vayer,  ami 
It'privcil  (it 
vas  oruclly 
itics  wl>i>ni 

il  after  liis 
»V  the  bap- 

»  * 

ijiig'  in  tlw 
iIUmI  up  all 
the  villaiiv. 
^^aH  one  ••!' 
litb  was  in 
she  tunic  1 
s  powertnl : 
ian,  with  ;i 
cut  by  till' 
lictse  tVult> 
)  tlie  nio>t 
hose  haii'l^ 
lie  of  thi'lll 
Ilcavtii 
it'S,  l)aiii'-l. 
,  and  ViiT- 
iven  thi'lll 

lu'  bK'0«l  ot 
Iherc  thov 


Iwnga. 


stopped,  wjus  a  cliikl,  Tfufalikwita,  whose  sanctity  at  a  later  date 
was  to  tiirow  su<'ii  a  halo  around  the  mission.  Apj)ointe«^l  to  NNait 
u|H)n  the  missionaries,  th«'  pure  girl  licrc  tlist  U-arncd  to  rcv.rciu'o 
religion,  and  from  their  words  derived  iier  th'st  knowledjj^c  of  il. 

AmoULf  tliose  who  prcscntfil  thems<'lves  to  the  missionaries  was 
a  Mohawk  s«juaw,  wIkj  showed  Lifroat  ferv(.>r  and  an  eiunest  (K-sirc 
iVir  baptism.  To  try  her  lirimie>s,  she  was  api»ointed  to  call  the 
Christians  to  prayer.  'Ihis  ollio**,  humiliating;  in  itself  to  an  Iro- 
t|ii<'is  of  rank,  and  exposiniLf  iier,  moreover,  tu  mock«'ry  and  insult, 
>li.'  t'ulHlled  with  humility  and  charity.  When  the  mis>ionaries 
wfie  depart iiiij:  f»»r  TioiKintoirucn,  Frcmin  promised  to  instruct  hv-r 
fully  on  his  return,  in  about  a  f<>rtnii,dit,  as  he  expectccl.  As  tiiat 
time  j>asscd  without  his  appearinu",  she  followed  iiim  ;  and  as  in 
tlio  interval  slie  had  learnt  the  jirayers  and  <'ateehism,  she  implort'd 
ii;i|itisin  airain.  Father  I'lcmin,  n(»t  aware  of  all  the  facts,  hcsi- 
tulei],  for  ho  was  afraid  of  baptiziiii;  too  hastily,  and  put  her  olf 
till  1.-  return.  Then  he  learn»<l  the  particulars  of  her  fervor,  and 
with  joy  and  consolation  made  her  a  child  of  (Jod.  She  never 
uavered  in  hert'aith;  the  ard»»r  of  liei- lirst  days  but  imtreased.  A 
series  of  domestic  atllictions  desolated  her  cabin,  and  stretched  her 
on  a  bed  »)f  surt'erin*;.  Kisll  of  contidence  in  (iod,  she  rejected  the 
suiKji-stitions  t!iat  her  friends  would  hav(!  had  lu-r  employ;  nor 
was  her  trust  in  G(xl  disappointed.  A  few  months  later  saw  Imm' 
ivstoivd  to  health. 

But  we  are  antioipatininf  (he  course  of  events.  Leavintj  (Jan- 
<l;i\v;)<;u6,  the  missionaries  visited  atiother  town,  where  they  bap- 
tizt'd  a  few  children,  and  procee<linof  on,  at  last  reaeheil  Tionnt»n- 
t(»!j:iU'n,  the  capital,  ri'built  about  a  <|uarter  of  a  leaufuo  from  that 
which  had  Invn  burnt.  It  was  jiow  thf  capital;  and  hei-f  the 
niiN>ii(inaries  were  s(j|enmly  receiveil,  with  every  demonstration  of 
liniiur.  by  the  saehe»ns  of  the  tribe.  In  j^ein-ral  assembly  ».f  tin? 
six  villajifes  of  the  ^fohawks,  Jirld  on  the  1  tih  of  September, 
latli.-r  Fiemin  aros«\  and.  after  reproaehini;  the  tribt!  with  th<'ir 


258 


AMERICAN   OATIIOI.IC   MISSIONS. 


faithlossnoss  and  ciuolty,  entered  at  length  on  tho  advantages  of 
jx'ace.     Tlien,  plantlni^  a  pole  and  attaciiinLj  a  belt  of  wannniiu 
to  its   toj*,   he  deelaivd   that  Onontio  would  hantf  in  a  siinihii 
way  the  fnst  who  should  violate  the  tieaty,  be  he  I'Venehnjan  (.) 
M(»hu\vk. 

I'rovoked  and  conlounde<l  as  they  were,  the  humbled  Gaii 
nieguo  answered  in  terms  of  ju-ace,  surrendered  all  their  ('aj)live>. 
and  assifjiied  the  missionaries  a  |)la('e  tor  a  chapel.  A  cabin  \s;;- 
soon  raised  on  the  sj)ot,  the  Ab)hawks  themselves  beini;'  iln- 
builders.  Here  the  mission  began,  and  divine  service  was  oilend 
up,  to  the  joy  of  the  Ifurotis,  so  louiif  deprived  of  tho  rites  of  tlii- 
Church.  Forty  of  these,  in  fervor  tar  above  the  ordinary  Lcraije  nf 
Christians,  so  fervent  yet  so  loni»*f()i-saken,  at  once;  jjfathered  arouihl 
the  altar.  Fr«'min,  skilled  in  Ifuron  and  < )nondai(a,  soon  spokf 
the  dialect  of  the  Mohawks,  and  l>ruyas  and  I'ierron  devuteij 
themselves  to  its  study.  Their  sermons  excited  the  attention  nf 
tho  people  to  such  a  degree,  that  heaven  and  hell  were  almost  tho 
only  subjects  of  conversation  in  the  cabins  on  the  baidcs  of  the 
Mohawk ;  and  Fremin  rose  to  such  influence,  that  when,  contrary 
to  the  treaty,  the  youth  were  about  to  put  an  Ottawa  to  death, 
lie,  bv  cries  and  threats  through  the  streets  of  tho  village,  cum- 
pelled  the  sachems  to  rescue  him  from  the  hands  of  the  infuriate 
mob. 

nis  influence  did  not,  however,  save  him  from  insult  and  vio- 
hr-nce,  especially  in  the  time  of  their  wild  debauches,  when,  mad- 
dened by  the  rKjuor  so  plenlit'ully  suj)j)liod  by  the  neighboriiiij 
traders,  they  forgot  all  restraint.  Then  flrebrands  were  flung  at 
the  missionaries"  beads,  tlieir  papers  burnt,  their  cha|X'l  ceii- 
stantly  entered.  P^       - 

The  mission  of  St.  Maiy  of  the  >rohawl<s  was,  liowever,  e^t.ili- 
lished.  In  three  months  flt'ty  had  been  baj)tized — two  only  of  the 
Mohawk  tribe,  and  they  at  the  point  of  death.  Fifty  more  J^oon 
followed,  and  tlie  mission  life  was  regularly  orgauiaecL 


FJtKNCll   MISSIONS. 


259 


Ivantages  ot' 
)(  waiu|iiiiii 
III  a  siiiiihii' 
uncliiiiaii  (•: 

inblod  Gaii- 
leir  cajuivi-. 
A  cabin  w;;-- 
s  b<-'iiiu"  ill'- 
!  was  oHItciI 
\  rites  of  tli.- 
ary  u^railf  ni' 
lered  aroiiii-l 
,  soon  sjiokc 

Toil    tlo\t>t<'il 

attention  <'t' 
•e  almost  tli*^ 
banks  ot'  the 
icn,  contrary 
Ava  to  death, 
^•illagc,  com- 

hc  infuriate 

s\ilt  and  vi<>- 
wlion,  ina<l- 
liioijjliboriiii; 
n-e  tiun;:'  :it 
|clia}X'l   (■< 'li- 
re ver,  rvt;i1>- 
only  ot  the 
uKvre  soou 


I 


Having  tlius  cstabiisliod  one  mission,  Father  Kremin  dispalched 
hi>  associate  Jiruvas  to  (  Mi«'ida,  and  l'iern»ii,  lirst  to  Albany  to 
renew  acijuaintance  with  tlio  I  Mitch,  and  conciliate  their  new 
in.i>ttis,  the  English,*  then  back  to  (Quebec  to  announce  the 
li.ippy  ii'sults  obtained. 

Katlier  IJruyas  set  out  in  Sej»tenibei'  with  one  l)0(juet,  a 
Frenchman,  as  hunter  and  interpreter,  and  soon  arrived  at  the 
('.i.^tlt'  of  the  Oiieidas,  feeblest  but  proudest  of  the  cantons.  They, 
tiMi,  welcomed  the  envoy  of  the  faith,  raised  a  chapel,  and  came 
tn  listen  to  his  sermons.  Thev  were  not  mere  idle  hearers;  they 
ti'uk  heed  of  wliat  was  said,  and  recounted  it  to  the  absent.  Thus, 
;i  woman  related  to  her  dying  mother  the  glorious  doctrines  she 
li.id  heard,  the  exhortations  to  a  nobler  lite,  and  she  believed, 
r.ruyns.  summoned  to  her  couch,  instructed  and  soon  bapti/e«l 
litr.  Shortly  after  she  sank ;  and  as  ln»  raised  the  crucifix  before 
her  <;l;issy  eyes,  lie  Jisked — "  J)o  you  love  Jlim  who  died  for  you  '*' 
"Ve^''  she  exclaimed;  "yes,  1  love  llim,  and  will  never  offend 
Him."  Thus  had  God  rewarded  her  for  a  eonjugal  fidelity  which 
had  made  her  honored  in  her  tribe. 

A  >fohawk  who  fell  sick,  and  was  surrounded  by  inedi<'ine-men, 
wns  loss  easily  reached;  but  the  zeal  of  Hruyas,  aided  by  the 
Huron  women,  triumphed,  and  the  bravti  died  with  a  pray«'r  for 
mercy  on  his  lips.  ''None,  I  hope,  will  die  unconverted,"  wrote 
r>niyas.  Fifty-two,  principally  children,  were  soon  baptized — the 
liist-fruits  of  the  mission  of  St.  FVancis  Xavier  of  the  Oneidas. 

Onondaga — cradle  of  the  faith — could  not  be  overlooked. 
Piorron,  after  meeting  Governor  Nicolls  in  Ot-tober,  reached  (^ue- 
Im'c  ill  FebniaiT,  and  in  May  the  youthful  Father  Julian  (Jarnier, 
t!if  first  Jesuit  ordained  in  Canada,  not  yet  twenty-five,  set  out 
for  niit'ida,  accompanied  by  Hoqui-t,  who  had  ju>t  <'oiii<'  in  with 
thirty  of  that  tribe.f     This  new  missionary  was  to  pass  on  to  the 


♦  Sop  N.  Y.  Col.  Doe.  iii.  U2. 


f  Journ.  Jes. 


260 


AMKUICAN    CATHOLIC    MI'SION.'. 


I   i* 


C)non(|jigas,  :tii)l  ir|Miit  \\io  j>ros|MM|s  wliidi   that  cantcm  utli'r<  .1 
for  rrhiiiltliiii;  St.  Mary's. 

Accuidiii;;lv,  al't«*r  a  short  stay  >vit!i  l"ath«'r  l»riiyas  at  <  >ii«'i<l,i. 
(Jariiier  fw't  out  fur  ( )ii(>inla«jfa,  wlicre  In;  >vjls  rccoiytMi  \Nith  all  <ui- 
(liality  by  that  fricudly  nation,  and  with  pfUi'tt  ontlmsiasin  \<\ 
(iar.'icontit'.  'Ihcy  earnestly  ini|»lori'tl  him  to  Hx  his  ri'Miltinf 
anion^  lIuMn,  hut  us  he  tleclari'tl  that  h»'  was  ordori'd  not  to  r.- 
niain,  uiilt'ss  a  (^haiH'l  was  fnTtt'd,  ^iaracoiitiu  at  oncn  took  it  in 
haiitl,  and,  liavinLf  s.m'Ii  it  a('<unij»li*«h».'d,  rrt  out  for  (^uelu'c  wiili 
Konio  ImviicIi  |»risoiK*rs  to  hrinsjf  hafk  an  assoriato  for  (Jarnicr,  .in.l 
a  missionary  for  tlu*  <  'aynufas,  who  had  hft-n  so  cruelly  disaiipointcl 
the  pri'crdini^  year. 

ArriyiiiLi'  at  (^uchcc,  ( laracontio,  in  a  nohlc  sp<'oc]i.  thanked  the 
(Joycrnor  tor  his  modi-ration  in  the  la^t  war,  and,  after  reminding: 
him  of  jiis  own  sfryices  to  tin-  j-'rcnch,  whom  ]\o  had  so  ot't<ii 
rescued  from  a  crutd  death,  he  hej^n^ed  two  missionaries  for  \\\>- 
cantons.  Coini  limentinL;  him  on  his  fidelity,  the  (loyeriior  ;i( - 
ced«'d  to  his  re«|Uest,  and  I'athers  Stejiiien  de  Carheil  and  riter 
Milet,  s«'leeted  hy  the  Sujterior,  were  committed  to  his  care,  ain! 
thus  rewarded  for  his  loni;  exertions,  he  sot  out  for  his  castle. 

Meanwhile  Planner  was  evani;eli/ini;  the  canton.  'J'he  llureiis 
still  ardent  in  their  faith,  needed  his  ministry.  The  Onondair.iN 
whom  they  or  the  French  had  won,  neede(l  tinal  instruction  ainl 
ba[»tism.  Tlu'  news  of  the  jiresence  of  IMack-gowns  at  Mohawk 
and  <  )neida  had  sent  a  thrill  of  joy  throULfh  them  all.  At  tin' 
very  monu'iit  of  his  arriyal,  an  Iroquois,  conyerted  by  his  Iliiieii 
wife,  and  teiTent  in  his  n(?w  faith,  was  about  to  start  for  (Miei'l:i. 
when  the  runners  announced  that  a  J>la(;k-gown  was  coniin;:. 
'Moy,  joy,  fttreyer!"  ho  exclaimed;  "he  >yiU  oj>eii  the  gale  d 
Ijeayen,  at  which  I  haye  been  so  loULf  knocking."* 

While  endeayorini,'  to  meet  all  the  duties  now  devolveil  upon 

•  Rol.  16C7-8,ch.  iv. 


!l 


aiituii  otiiixi 

.'(•i  ;il  <  Mi»'i.|;,. 
[  with  ;ill  <•' li- 
nt liusinMii   liV 

llis    lVM<l«llt»' 

ihI  not  tn  r.'- 
co  took  il  ill 
•  (^iu'Ikt  with 
r  (Jariiit'V,  :iii*l 
V  (lisMj»|Miiiittil 

I,  thankitl  the 
IUt  rt'inini!iii<_' 
(  lm«l  so  oticii 
iii.'irit's  I'm   til'' 

<  I()V('riM»|'  ;i(- 

lifil  an<l  iN'tiT 
llis  cart'.  ;iim1 
lis  cnstlt'. 

Tlio  lluroiis 
e  ( )nt>ii«lair;i''. 
struct  ion  aii'l 
s  at  Mdi.iwk 
all.  At  th.- 
•V  his  Huron 
rt  tor  (>n<-i<l;i. 
was  ('(iiniiiix. 
I  th''  u".il«'  <t 

[evolvetl  II] "^11 


"^Wi 


FKKNCll    MI.SSluNrt. 


201 


liiiii  ill  this  mission,  (Jarnirr  \v;w  joined  in  <  N-tolM'r  l»y  Milff  and 
tit'  Carhoil,  ami  K'aviiiif  tin,'  t'onm-r  t«»  iv|.laff  liiin  at  niiontlai;a, 
j»r»K'('iMlt'<l  to  Cayii!^a  to  inliodiitc  df  (ariu'il  to  ijiat  tiilM-.  i  Ui 
.nriviiii;  at  tlie  cast lo  ot'  tin?  Cayni^as,  on  the  Utii  ot'  Nov«'iijU'r, 
ilitv  I'oinul  tlK'in  «lev<»urinir,  with  sa«Til«'ijfious  riti's,  a  Coiit-s- 
to<ruo  ufirl,  to  propitiate  tlii.'ir  i^od.  \  et  ihuy  roci'ivi'd  th<'  niis>ion- 
.iiiis  kindly,  and  at  oiico  raised  a  »liajM'l,  which  Father  do  ( 'ai- 
li.il  dedicated  to  St.  .loseph,  patioii  of  the  Jesuit  inis.sions,  and  ot' 
N'oithcrn  Aiiiciica.* 

.hist  het'oiv  thi>,  I'athcr  I'Veiniii,  the  |tioneor  ot' the  new  iiiis>ioiis, 
lia\iii;jf    I'iciTon    on    the    Mohawk,  wh      i    In-   h:id   reached   thii-e 


la\ s  het'oie,  s<'t  out  on  the  l(»tliot'(»i 


I'or  the  Seneca  countrv, 


In  three  weeks  luj  was  in  the  villai^es  ot'  the  western  trihe.      IJe- 
cived  as  an  aiiil»assador  of  (  Miontio,  he  hiiilt  a  «'hai»el,  and  i)eir;iii 
llis  lahoif  by  baptizing  the  children  of  the  ('hristiaiis  there,  and 
lii-ariiii^  ronfessions.| 
Tiius,  hv  th».'  close  of  l(!(iS,  there  were  missions  t'ounded  in  all 


ill."  I 


ro(|Uois  canton^ 


lifsides  this,  an  incident  occiirreil  at  the  <  Mieida  mission  which 
It'll  to  results  of  tin;  most  strikiiii;  character  in  the  jifopaiLjation  of 
ill*.'  laith  ainonir  the  Iro.jUois. 

Anioiief  the  tlock  of  Father  Uruyas  at  <  >iiei(]a  was  a  Huron,  whos«» 
\\it'.',  <;aiineaktcna,  by  birth  an  Krie,  by  adoj>tion  an  ( Mieida,  had 
loiiLr  hi'<'U  esteemed  for  her  virtue,  Iter  modesty,  purity,  atnl  efenth'- 
iK'fvs.  Sb(»  was  one  of  the  tiist  to  become  a  tlisciple  of  l»riiyas, 
wliuni  she  aided  in  his  study  of  the  lani^iiau'c  of  the  canton.  Ib-r 
iinlination  to  Christianity  was  not,  iiowever,  relished  by  her  family, 
and  she  in  conse(ju«'nc(5  met  with  unceasiiii^  j)ersecution  t'rom  her 
relatives.  When  lioquet  set  out  ft»r  Montreal  with  s«'VeraI  <  )neidas, 
slu.'  seized  the  opportunity,  and  with  her  Imsband  proct'cded  to  tluj 
coluuy,  in  order  to  be  able  to  embrace  Cliristianity  in  ]»eace.     Ka- 


*  Rel.  1667-8,  ch.  v..  niul  1068-0.  j..  r.n. 


♦  liel.  ItJt'.s-Ct,  p.  S2. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


A 


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1.0 


I.I 


■so 


^  M   12.2 


Ui    liii 
us 

111 


'^m 


1.8 


1.25    ||U   1 1.6 

^ 

6"     

► 

Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


^ 


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6^ 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


^ 


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1 ' 


202 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


ther  Raft'eix  was  then  at  Montreal  planning  a  settlement  at  L.i- 
prairie :  during  the  winter  he  instructed  her,  and  in  the  spiing  the 
party  proceeded  to  Quebec,  where  she  was  baptized  by  the  name 
of  Catharine,  and  confirmed  by  the  holy  Bishop  Laval.  Full  of 
joy  and  zeal,  she  no^'.  longed  to  make  those  who  had  persecuto(l 
her  sharers  of  her  happiness ;  and,  as  she  returned,  she,  to  her  great 
astonishment,  found  them  at  Montreal,  and  desirous  of  followiii<i' 
her  example.  With  them  she  again  proceeded  to  Quebec,  ari<l, 
after  their  instruction,  returned  to  Laprairie,  as  Raffeix  had  urged 
her,  and  founded  a  new  Iroquois  village  on  the  banks  of  the  St. 
Lawrence — a  village  Christian  in  its  origin.  Christian  in  the  zeal, 
sanctity,  and  punty  of  so  many  of  its  children.* 

Such  Avere  the  fruits  of  this  eventful  year,  16G7,  in  which,  after 
years  of  ti'ial  and  endeavor,  missions  were  at  last  begun  in  all  the 
cantons,  and  a  new  home  opened  for  the  convert  whom  tie  pagan 
and  the  unbeliever  harassed  for  his  faith.  These  missions  con- 
tinued for  several  years,  the  last  with  its  filiations  to  the  present 
day ;  and  as  each  has  in  a  manner  a  history  of  its  own,  we  shall 
now  proceed  to  trace  their  annals,  sometimes  grouped  together,  at 
others  giving  each  its  distinct  narrative  as  materials  or  the  events 
seem  to  require. 

*  Compare  Rel.  1667-8,  cli.  iii.  with  the  account  of  Catharine  Gauneaktena, 
in  Chauchetiere's  Life  of  Cuthariuo  Teguhkwita  (MS.) 


r  ,!i 


% 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


le  Gauneaktena, 


IROQUOIS    MISSION (CONTINUED.) 

The  Mohawk  mission — Picrron  and  his  labors— His  paintings — Cards— Invokes  tbo 
aid  of  the  English  governor  in  repressing  ttie  liquor-trado— Success  at  Cauglinawnga — 
"ather  Boniface — The  feast  of  the  dead— Triumph  of  Fremln— Idolatry  abolislied — 
Conversions — Peter  Assendase— Fervent  women — Notro  Dame  dc  Foye- Deatli  of 
Boniface— Conversion  of  Kryn,  tlic  great  Mohawk — Emigration  to  Canada — Catharine 
Tehgahkwita — Her  piety— Departure — Later  missionaries — Close  of  the  mission. 

Father  Pierron  returned  to  Tinniontoguen,  the  mission  site,  on 
tlie  Vth  of  October,  1068,  and  three  days  after,  Father  Freniin, 
setting  out  for  Seneca,  left  him  sole  missionary.  He  was  not  un- 
equal to  the  task;  though  but  a  short  time  in  America,  and  scjirceiy 
yet  a  resident  at  his  mission,  he  had  acquired  enough  of  the  Mo- 
hawk dialect  to  express  himself  readily,  and,  what  was  more  im- 
portant, had  at  once  seized  the  characteristics  of  the  Indian  race. 
His  instructions  in  the  seven  Mohawk  towns  were  unremitting,  and 
not  without  fruit.  A  witness  of  the  good  done  in  country  missions 
by  the  symbolical  pictures  of  Mr.  Le  Nobletz,  the  home-missionary 
of  Brittany,  Father  Pierron  turned  his  own  skill  in  painting  to  ac- 
count ;  and  two  pictures,  the  death-scenes  of  a  Christian  and  of  a 
pagan  Indian,  with  their  future  symbolized,  produced  the  greatest 
impression,  and  effectively  aided  him. 

The  present  was  a  season  of  turmoil  on  the  Mohawk :  the  Mo- 
hegans,  more  numerous  and  far  more  alert,  carried  the  war  to  the 
very  palisades  of  the  haughty  tribe,  whose  humiliation  by  the 
French  had  broken  the  prestige  of  awe  before  which  the  Algic 
tribes  had  so  long  cowered.  Amid  all  this  din  of  battle,  PieiTon 
wrestled  manfully  with  the  two  great  enemies  of  his  work,  super- 
stition and  inebriety :  the  former  he  so  covered  with  ridicule  that 
juggleries  ceased  at  his  presence :  to. crush  the  latter  he  appealed 


264 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


I 


i  ' 


to  the  manly  Christian  sense  of  the  Englisli  governor.  Ilis  letter 
was  not  Avitliout  its  eft'ect.  ''  1  will  lestrain  by  severe  penalties  the 
furnishing  of  any  excess  to  the  Indians,"  writes  Lovelace  in  reply ; 
and,  alluding  to  the  request  of  the  sachems  and  chiefs  inclosed  hy 
the  missionaiy,  he  adds  :  "  I  am  delighted  to  see  such  virtuous 
thoughts  proceed  from  heathens  to  the  shame  of  many  Chiistiaus; 
hut  this  must  be  attributed  to  your  pious  instructions,  for,  well 
versed  in  a  strict  discipline,  you  have  shown  them  the  way  of  mor- 
tification, both  in  precept  and  practice."*  Seven  villages  were  too 
large  a  field  for  one  missionary :  at  his  call  the  zealous  Father 
Boniface  joined  him. 

Of  all  the  Mohawk  towns,  Gandawague,  committed  to  the  caro 
of  I3oniface,  now  took  the  lead  in  piety,  fervor,  and  constancy, 
amid  insult.  This  village  had  its  chapel,  built  by  the  Indian  con- 
verts, who  assembled  regularly  each  Sunday  to  chant  by  their 
rapid  streamlet  the  law  delivered  amid  th«.'  thunders  of  Sinai ;  for 
circumstances  did  not  always  permit  the  missionary  to  ofter  up  the 
holy  sacrifice  among  them.  The  fruit  here  granted  to  his  labors, 
the  missionaries  in  general  attributed  under  God  to  the  death  ami 
blood  of  Father  Jogues.  "  He  shed  it,"  says  the  Relation,  "  at  the 
very  place  where  this  new  Christian  church  begins  to  arise,  and 
it  seems  as  thougli  we  are  to  see  verified  in  our  days  the  beau- 
tiful words  of  TertuUian  :  '  The  blood  of  martyrs  is  the  seed  of 
Christians.'  ** 

The  conversions  were  indeed  consoling;  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
■me  were  baptized,  nearly  half  of  them  adults,  one  having  been  in 
his  day  the  great  war-chief  of  the  confederacy ;  three  others,  meu 
venerable  for  their  years  and  wisdom  in  the  management  of  aftairs. 
'J'he  women,  touched  by  the  beauty  of  the  truths  of  Christianity, 
embraced  them  with  joy,  and  clung  to  them  with  the  fidelity  of 
their  sex.f 


*  Letter  of  November  1<5;  1668. 


+  Kel.  1668-9,  ch.  i. 


FPENCII  MLSSIONS. 


265 


His  lotter 
icnaltios  the 
3e  in  iei»ly ; 
iuclosed  l»y 
ich  virtuous 
irChvistiaiis; 
ms,  for,  well 
way  of  mor- 
rjes  were  too 
alous  Father 

cl  to  the  care 
(i  constancy, 
3  Indian  con- 
ant  by  theh- 

of  Sinai;  for 
:o  offer  up  the 

to  liis  hibors, 
lie  death  and 

.tion,  "  at  the 
to  arise,  and 

|ys  the  beau- 

s  the  seed  of 

Ircd  and  tifty- 
living  been  in 

others,  men 
ient  of  affairs. 

Christianity, 
Ihe  fidelity  of 


1  ch.  i. 


As  the  Mohegan  war  went  on,  the  battle-field  and  the  scaffold 
gave  new  theatres  to  the  zeal  of  Pierron  and  Boniface.  Despite 
the  wish  of  the  Mohawks  to  see  their  captives  burn  in  hell,  he  in- 
structed and  baptized  them,  giving  to  the  wounded  both  medical 
and  spiritual  aid.  Entering  a  village  one  day,  the  missionary  to 
his  joy  descried  a  cross  planted  in  the  middle  of  the  broad  street. 
In  a  transport  of  joy  he  knelt  to  thank  the  Alnrlglity  for  this 
change  in  the  hearts  of  the  Mohawks,  but  foimd,  to  his  regret,  that 
it  had  been  raised  by  a  medicine-man,  who  had  learned,  in  a  dream, 
that  the  cross  was  the  mistress  of  life.  Strange  revolutions  since 
the  day  of  Goupil's  death  !  Following  the  Mohawk,  however,  to 
the  fishery,  the  cliase,  or  the  field,  he  at  last  gained  proselytes : 
several  embraced  the  f^lith :  one,  a  brave  warrior,  was  honored 
after  death  with  a  solemn  funeral  service,  and  the  corpse,  surrounded 
hy  tapers  during  the  requiem,  was  borne  to  the  grave  to  the  chant 
of  the  Miserere,  amid  the  throng  of  wondering  Indians.  l*ieiTon 
was  a  thorough  missionary :  zealous,  capable,  active  in  mind  and 
body,  labor  never  weighed  upon  him.  He  taught  catechism  twice 
a  day  to  old  and  young :  now  in  one  village,  now  in  another,  for 
he  was  ever  in  motion.  He  undertook  a  school  at  Tinniontoguen, 
and  for  a  month  taught  Mohawk  boys  to  read  and  write ;  but  at 
last,  finding  himself  unable  to  cope  with  such  varied  duties,  he  sus- 
pended it.  The  chief  doctrines  of  the  Church  he  next  drew  on 
cards,  and,  by  forming  games,  inculcated  them  on  the  minds  of  all. 
A  Christian  life  formed  the  game  of  point  to  point,  the  cradle  to 
the  grave. 

Still  his  progress  was  slow.  Hawenniio*  had  not  yet  over- 
thrown Aireskoi  and  the  other  ancient  deities  of  the  land.  A 
happy  accident  accomplished  what  zeal  and  devotedness  had  failed 

*  Tho  modern  Iroquois  name  for  the  Great  Spirit :  it  is  composed  of  Niio, 
a  corruption  of  the  French  Dieu,  written,  at  first,  Di8,  and  tlio  native  prefix 
Hawen.  It  means  tlie  true  God,  and  the  present  pagan  Iroquois  undoubtedly 
worship  him,  though  with  many  superstitions. 


266 


AMERICAN    CAIIIOLIC   MISSIONS. 


■'     sm 

m 

'}     > 

I  ■ 

to  do.  Gandawaguo  was  the  scouo  of  a  foast  for  the  dead,  and  to 
this  cradle  of  the  tribe  lepaired  not  only  the  Mohawk,  but  also  the 
clansmen  of  Oneida  and  Onondaga ;  and  each  in  cabins  apart  pii- 
pared  to  take  a  part  in  the  funeral  rites,  and  games,  and  banquets. 

For  respect  to  the  dead  the  aborigines  have  ever  been  remark- 
able. The  Huron-Iroquois  were  peculiar  in  the  honors  which 
ihcy  paid  to  the  departed.  Unless  lie  died  by  frost  or  violence'. 
the  body  was  at  fii-st  buried  in  a  circular  pit  in  a  sitting  postuiv. 
or,  more  frequently,  inclosed  in  a  bark  coflBn,  laid  on  a  platform  of 
bark  raised  on  posts  to  protect  it  from  wild  beasts.  Food  wa^< 
regularly  offered  on  the  grave,  or  at  this  aerial  tomb ;  and  w  hen  a 
certain  period  had  elapsed,  generally  about  ten  years,  all  who  had 
died  in  the  interval  were  disinterred  and  committed  to  one  common 
fur-lined  grave,  with  game,  and  banquet,  and  solemn  rite.  Tliis 
was  the  festival  of  the  dead. 

At  the  present  one.  Father  PieiTon  stood  amidst  the  Mohawk 
sachems.  When,  in  the  course  of  the  ceremonies,  orators  began 
to  relate  their  theory  of  the  creation,  he  ridiculed  the  tale,  and, 
though  ordered  to  be  silent,  continued  to  refute  'it.  On  this  lie 
was  driven  from  the  group  where  he  stood,  and  compelled  to  take 
a  position  among  the  Onondaga  delegation.  The  ceremonies 
lasted  five  hours ;  and  as  Pierron  had  thrown  out  hints  of  his  leav- 
ing the  canton,  they  were  no  sooner  closed,  than  the  Mohawk 
chief  who  had  treated  him  so,  came  to  apologize,  and  beg  him  not 
to  leave  on  that  account.  The  missionary,  however,  affected  to 
be  greatly  hurt  at  the  insult.  Driven  at  last  to  despair,  the  chief, 
who  foresaw  no  alternative  but  a  rupture  with  the  French,  ex- 
claimed— "  I  see  what  is  at  the  bottom  of  all  this.  "VVe  are  not 
Christians ;  but  if  you  leave  this  great  affair  to  me,  I  promise  you 
success.  Convoke  a  council ;  give  a  belt  to  each  of  the  three 
families ;  speak  out  your  mind,  and  leave  the  rest  to  me." 

On  the  following  day,  notwithstanding  his  advanced  age,  be 
went  around  to  the  cabin  of  every  sachem,  and  summoned  all  the 


; 


FFIENCH   MISSIONS. 


26; 


Ovnnders  to  Piorrous  cha}iol.  There  tlie  inissionjuy  afldressed 
tlioin,  and,  declaring  liis  intention  to  return  to  Canada,  urged 
llieni  by  liis  belts  to  renounce  Aireskoi,  to  stop  invoking  the  evil 
s})irits,  and  to  suppress  superstitious  dances.     A  few  days  after,  on 


the  25th  of  March,  1070,  while  G 


d 


(Jnondaga 

party  were  there,  they  returned  to  the  cha}»el  to  make  their 
answer.  Before  the  proceedings  conmienced,  Garacontie  spoke 
to  support  the  requests  of  Pierron,  but  tlie  great  Mohawk  chief 
said — "  This  Fi'enchman  has  changed  our  hearts  and  souls ;  his 
desires  and  thoughts  are  ours ;  we  listen  not  to  thee,  but  to  him ;" 
and  then  repeated  all  his  address.  The  politic  Garacontie  again 
rose,  and,  after  complaining  of  the  apparent  sliglit  put  upon  him, 
changed  his  tone,  and  exclaimed — "  I  thank  you.  Take  his  word, 
for  he  has  sacrificed  all  for  you."  This  conduct  of  the  Onondaga 
orator  had  a  great  effect,  as  his  authority  and  reputation  were  im- 
mense. 

On  the  following  day  anotlier  council  was  held,  and  the 
sachems,  after  declaring  the  difliculty  of  renouncing  old  customs, 
agreed  to  the  demands  of  the  missionary,  renounced  Aireskoi, 
and  promised  to'  do  all  in  their  power  to  stop  any  future  invoca- 
tion of  that  false  deity,  and  to  suppress  the  superstitious  dances  by 
all  the  arguments  they  could  adduce — sole  power  of  the  sachems. 

The  missionary  thanked  them  for  their  resolve,  and  at  their  in- 
stance enlarged  his  chapel.  A  few  days  after,  the  medicine-men 
cast  into  the  fire  their  turtle-shell  rattles,  with  all  their  other 
badges  and  instruments  of  office.  Their  occupation  ceased.  No 
cabin  now  echoed  with  their  howls  around  the  couch  of  the  sick 
and  dying;  they  were  not  even  summoned.  The  lascivious  dance 
H'dered  by  dreams  was  neglected.  The  old  urged  the  young  to 
attend  to  the  instructions.  Paganism  had  fallen.  Aireskoi  was 
disowned,  and  his  name  is  not  even  known  in  our  days  among  the 
Iroquois.  The  next  step  of  the  missionaries  was  to  implant  Chris- 
tian truth  and  Christiar.  feeling  in  their  hearts. 


2t)8 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


'  i ' 


Tliis  ^va.s  the  moment  of  triumph.  Ilenfoforward  idolatry 
ceased  ninid  the  Mohawks.  A  vast  field  opened  to  Pierron,  and, 
liastening  to  Quebec,  lio  soon  returned  with  Fathers  Thierry  !><•- 
schefer  and  Louis  Nicolas,  to  Jiid  him  in  cultivating  to  the  har- 
vest the  whitening  field  so  suddenly  pi'escnted.  Fervor  pervaded 
all,  and  converts  wero  made,  who  never  wavered  in  the  t'aitli. 
The  Catholic  Indians  of  the  Mohawk  were  now  known  and  ridi- 
culed by  the  people  of  Albany,  who  had  never  made  an  attenij»t 
to  introduce  Christianity  there.  The  burghers  of  Albany  and 
Now  York  even  threatened  the  squaws  for  displaying  their  "  beads 
and  popish  trumpeiy"  in  their  villages;  but,  far  from  conceal- 
ing these  marks  of  their  faith,  the  noble  Mohawk  women  were 
ready  to  die  for  it.  One  of  them,  stung  by  the  taunts  of  the 
whites,  went  into  their  meeting-house,  and  recited  aloud  the 
prayers  taught  her  by  the  Black-gown  chief  of  the  prayer.* 

Among  these  women  some  experienced  persecution  from  the 
pagans  also ;  and  Skawandes,  after  escaping  from  the  tomahaw  ks 
and  scalping-knives  of  the  Mohegans,  resolved  to  go  to  Canada, 
and  set  out  with  an  Oyander,  who  had  been  deprived  of  her  rights 
foi'  embracing  the  faith.f 

Yet  the  mission  went  steadily  on,  and  eighty-four  baptisms  are 
reported  for  the  year  1G70,  when  Pierron  was  again  alone  J  with 
Boniface.  Destined,  how^ever,  soon  to  yield  his  mission  once  more 
to  Bruyas,§  now  made  Superior  of  the  mission,  Pierron  was  re- 
called to  govern  the  new  mission  of  St.  Francis  Xavier  des  Pres, 
at  Laprairie.  A  malignant  fever  desolated  the  canton  in  1GV2, 
arising  from  excessive  debaucheries  at  the  end  of  the  Mohegan  war. 
It  gave  abundant  employment  to  the  missionaries,  and  was  the  oc- 
casion of  many  conversions.  Thus  only,  however,  did  the  faith 
make  any  considerable  progress.  The  impylse  given  by  Fremin 
had  sj)ent  its  force,  and  the  Mohawks  relapsed  into  their  usual  iii- 


*  Eel.  1669-ro,  p.  111-193. 
X  Rel.  1670-1,  ch.  iii.  p.  40. 


t  Rel.  1670-1,  ch.  iii. 
§  Rel.  1671-2,  p.  59. 


FRENCH  MISSIONS. 


269 


(litTerencc*  Yet  converts  were  made  ;  among  others,  tlu;  almost 
oitoyenarian  cliiof,  Assendase,  eminent  for  talent  and  exj^-rienee, 
.suheni  of  one  of  the  great  families,  who,  aftt'r  a  long  and  proud 
struggle,  bent  to  the  cross.  All  human  reasons  seemed  to  induce 
liini  to  remain  a  pagan,  and  adhere  to  his  superstitions,  for  he  was 
a  medicine-man,  and  a  haughty  dissembler;  but  when  he  sub- 
mitted, his  fervor  repaid  his  patient  pastor.  Lnmediately  after 
his  baptism,  Peter  Assendjiso  declared  officially  that  he  would  no 
longer  sit  in  council  on  any  dream,  or  such  like  supei'stition ;  and 
lie  was  true  to  liis  word.  So  for,  indeed,  did  his  zeal,  not  merely 
for  the  conversion  of  his  own  family,  but  of  his  tribe,  carry  hira, 
that  "  we  thought,"  say  the  missionaries,  "  that  he  would  have  the 
[fhrj  of  being  the  first  Iroquois  martyr."  An  idolatrous  relative 
one  day  sprang  upon  him,  and,  tearing  from  his  neck  his  crucifix 
and  beads,  raised  his  tomahawk  to  strike  him  down.  "  Stnke," 
said  the  hero;  "I  shall  be  too  happy  to  die  in  such  a  cause.  I 
would  not  regret  my  life's  blood  given  in  testimony  of  my  faith." 

He  was  deemed  the  soundest  statesman  in  his  tribe,  and  on  him 
the  missionary  Bruyas  now  perhaps  relied  too  much.  God  soon 
withdrew  him  from  this  world.  After  an  illness  of  six  months,  he 
expired  in  August,  1C75,  in  perfect  resignation  to  the  will  of 
God,  "  who  sets,"  to  use  his  dying  words,  "  what  limit  he  \\\\\  to 
our  days."f 

Meanwhile  Father  Boniface  w^as  cultivating  the  more  prosperous 
mission  of  Gandawague,  and  by  his  zeal  achieving  results  which 
rank  him  among  the  greatest  of  our  missionaries.  At  Ganda- 
wague the  faith  was  more  constantly  embraced  than  in  any  other 
part  of  the  Mohawk  country,  and  "  liere,"  say  the  missionaries, 
"  we  fii-st  saw,  properly  speaking,  a  native  church,  and  Christian 
generosity  displayed.  We  accordingly  style  it  the  first  and  chief 
mission  that  we  have  among  the  Iroquois."     Here  the  neophytes 


*  Rel.  1672-3,  MS. 


+  Kel.  1G78-9;  1676-7,  MS. 


«:* 


270 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


P  I! 


showocl  many  instances  of  fervor.  Clnistian  women  rojoctod  tlic 
Iiands  of  lieallicn  cliicfs,  prefi-rriuif  privation  to  wealth,  wliciv 
their  faith  would  be  endangereih  Another,  more  fervent  than 
well-informed,  drove  from  her  lodge  an  unhelieving  husband,  wlm 
liad  destroyed  lier  beads;  but  learning  that  she  had  done  wrouu', 
recalled  him,  and  won  him  to  the  faith.     A  pagan  custom  ha(| 


ith 


moth 


condemned  the  unweaned  child  to  be  buried  wiiii  us  moiini'. 
TJiese  innocents  were  now  saved,  and  nursed  by  Christian 
women. 

Such  was  the  progress  of  the  faith,  that  in  this  village  alun« , 
containing  about  four  liundred  souls,  thirty-three  adults  were  pub- 
licly baptized  in  less  than  ten  months.  From  1G73,  prayers  were 
publicly  said  at  this  mission  of  St.  Peter's  as  regularly  as  in  any 
Christian  community  in  Europe.  The  choirs  of  men  and  women, 
with  the  tiny  voices  of  the  children,  honored  the  solemnity  of 
Sunday,  and  after  the  sacrifice  of  the  mass,  bread  was  blessed,  ac- 
cording to  the  customs  of  the  churches  of  France.  The  matron 
who  presented  the  bread  then  gave  a  little  entertainment  to  tlie 
Christiana,  and  distributed  the  bread.  Tliis  "  Agape"  was  opened 
and  closed  by  prayer,  and  in  cordiality,  purity,  and  piety  recalled 
those  of  the  catacombs. 

Father  Bruyas  had  received  at  his  mission  a  miraculous  statue 
of  Notre  Dame  de  Foye  from  the  shrine  of  Dinan,  which  so 
awakened  the  zeal  and  fervor  of  Agnie,  that  the  town  was  com- 
pletely changed.  Whenever  it  was  exposed  on  the  rustic  altar,  as 
it  was  on  the  feast  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  the  crowds  that 
flocked  in  never  retired  without  leaving  some  better  disposed. 

So,  too,  at  St.  Peter's.  Father  Boniface,  at  Christmas,  exposed 
beside  the  altar  an  effigy  of  the  infant  Jesus,  lying  in  his  wretched 
manger,  and  in  like  manner  increased  the  piety  of  the  Christian, 
and  excited  the  attention  of  the  unbeliever.* 

»  Rel.  1673-9,  1675,  1676,  MS. 


f 


ail ! 


FREN'CH   MISSIONS. 


271 


iulous  statue 


Ivn  was  coin- 


But  amid  his  triiinij>hs  at  Caughnawaga*  tho  health  of  Fathor 
IJonitac*'  sank  rapidly;  tho  privations  of  liis  missionary  lifo,  his 
unsparing  labois  wore  hurrying  him  to  tho  grave.  In  1G74  he  was 
ret  allod  to  Quebec,  and  in  December  lay  stretched  on  a  bed  of 
pain,  surrounded  by  his  fellow-missionarios,  who  saw  him  wasting 
away  unconscious  of  his  state,  for  lie  was  constantly  delirious.  In 
order  to  obtain  him  a  happy  death,  all  with  one  consent  had  ro- 
coui-se  to  tho  intercession  of  Father  Brebeuf.  Heaven  was  not  deaf 
to  the  voice  of  prayer,  or  insensible  to  the  merits  of  his  servant ; 
Father  Boniface,  by  what  all  deemed  a  miracle,  recovered  his  senses 
and  expired,  in  sentiments  of  the  most  tender  piety,  on  tho  ITth  of 
December,  16V4.f 

Caughnawaga  was  thus  bereaved  of  its  devoted  pastor,  but  the 
zeal  and  fervor  of  the  Christians  were  undiminished.  New  converts 
were  constantly  made,  and  Bruyas  extended  to  them  too  liis  apos- 
tolic care.  Among  those  who  now  embraced  the  faith  was  the 
\\\k  of  Kryn,  the  great  sachem  of  the  tribe,  Avho  resided  there.  On 
her  conversion,  the  chieftain's  anger  knew  no  bounds,  and,  forsaking 
his  lodge,  he  struck  into  tlie  wilderness.  In  his  rambling  hunt  he 
reached  the  St.  Lawrence,  where  the  new  village  was  rising  at 
Laprairie.  Entering  it,  he  was  struck  by  the  jxjace  and  order  which 
prevailed ;  he  listened  more  attentively  than  he  had  ever  done  to 
the  instructions  of  Father  Fremin.  Resolved  to  examine,  he  win- 
tered there  with  a  pious  Christian  Avoman,  who  taught  him  and  his 
companions  the  prayere,  and  overcome  their  doubts.  13efore  spring 
he  had  become  a  Christian,  and  an  enthusiastic  advocate  of  the 
new  village.  Unaware  of  the  change  effected  in  him.  Father  Boni- 
face was  startled  one  day  by  his  well-known  gathering-cry,  which 
had  so  often  summoned  the  braves  to  follow  him  on  the  war-path, 
fiT,  contrary  to  custom,  Kryn  was  a  brave.   To  his  clansmen  he  now 


*  Thus  we  shall  now  modernizo  Gandawague. 
t  Manuscript  attestation  of  the  miracle. 


r.l.  j 


272 


AMKUKAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


rolat»'d  all  tluit  had  transplrod,  and  he  iii'ijod  all  who  shared  his 
ideas  (o  I'ollow  him  t<>  l.ainairio.  Many  were  already  Christians, 
and  conscious  of  the  dangers  to  which  theii'  faith  and  morals  wen* 
('.\j)osed  amid  i>a<^ans  addicted  to  vice  and  superstition,  had  already 
turned  a  longing  eye  to  Laprairie.  Forty  at  once  joined  him,  a  noMo 
band  of  pilgrims  for  religion's  sake.  Turning  to  take  a  last  look  of 
the  liomo  of  their  tribe,  the  grave  of  their  sires,  they  knelt,  and, 
with  one  prayer  for  its  benighted  pet>i>le,  turned  with  heavy  hearts, 
upborne  by  faith  alone,  to  the  woodland  trail  that  led  to  the  St. 
Lawrence.*  On  Easter  Sunday,  1070,  they  reached  the  inissiiju, 
amid  the  celebration  of  that  happy  day.f 

Alarmed  at  this  desertion,  the  sachems  met  at  Tinniontoguon,  and 
summoning  l)ruyas  before  them,  charged  liim  with  depopulating 
the  canton,  llis  answer  was  clear.  Of  the  act  of  the  chief  lie 
knew  nothing  more  than  they :  he  had  neither  counselled  nor  jno- 
jected  it.  Their  own  conduct,  vice,  and  superstition,  were,  he 
showed  them,  the  real  causes  of  the  decline  of  the  tribe. 

Father  James  de  Lamberville  had  been  sent  to  replace  Boniface 
at  Caughnawaga,  and  from  10*75  labored  in  this  village  of  piedi- 
lection,^;  recurring  in  his  difficulties  to  Father  Jogues,  the  illustrious 
founder  of  the  mission,  and  seldom  recurring  in  vain. 

The  departure  of  many  fervent  Christians,  first  with  Boniface  and 
then  with  the  great  Mohawk,  had  indeed  greatly  reduced  the  vil- 
lage and  still  more  his  flock,  but  consolations  were  not  wanting. 
Tegahkwita,  daughter  of  a  Christian  Algonquin  woman,  had  been 
an  orphan  almost  from  her  birth.  A  Aveakness  of  the  eyes,  the  re- 
sult of  fever,  confined  her  much  to  the  cabin,  and  thus  shielded  her 
modesty  and  purity.  When  Fremin  and  his  companions  were  in 
her  uncle's  hut  she  had  waited  on  them,  and  learned  to  love  and 
respect  the  Black-gown.    She  longed  to  be  a  Christian,  but  was  too 


*  Charley,  de  la  Mission  de  St.  F.  X.  des  Pres,  IG  4.  MS. ;  Eel.  1C73-9,  MS. 
+  Lettres  edifiantes.  ^  Kcl.  1675,  :\!S. ;   ^ol.  1676-7,  MS. 


<    i 


FllENX'II   MISSIONS. 


273 


hasliful  to  present  heixelf,  and  her  uncliss  liostility  to  tlie  faith  pre- 
vented any  alhi.sion  to  it  in  iiis  ]>res«'nf:e.  Soon  alter  La inhervi lie's 
arrival,  wliilo  most  of  tho  vilhiLjo  was  aitsent  in  tlie  field  or  woods, 
the  missionary  hei^an  to  visit  tlie  cahins  to  instruct  tin;  sick  and 
siieli  as  remained.  A  wound  in  lier  foot  liad  kept  Tei^ahkwita  at 
lioino.  Joy  lighted  uj)  lier  countenaneo  as  tho  missionary  entered. 
She  at  once  contid«'d  to  him  lier  d«'sires,  tho  long-treasured  wish  of 
her  heart  to  be  a  Christian,  tho  opposition  of  bor  family,  their  in- 
tention to  compel  lier  to  marry,  to  wliich  sho  wa^  strongly  dis- 
inclined. Delighted  as  tho  missionary  was  to  luivo  discoveu'd 
such  sim})licity,  can(h»r,  and  courage,  ho  was  fur  from  hastening  lier 
baptism.  Tho  winter  was  spent  in  instructing  lier,  and  in  examining 
the  character  sho  had  borne  till  then.  Her  courage  amid  i)otty  i>er- 
socution  exalted  her  perfection,  and  after  witnessing  the  departure 
of  the  great  Mohawk,  Avhom  sho  longed  to  follow,  sho  was  baptized 
on  Easter  Sunday,  IGTG,  tho  veiy  day  of  his  arrival  at  Laprairio. 

Faithful  to  her  conscience,  when  iniaided  by  tho  gospel  light 
Cathanue  Tehgahkwita,  as  may  ojisily  be  supposed,  now  gave  her 
soul  entirely  to  God.  Her  devotions,  her  austerities,  her  good 
works,  were  at  once  determined  upon  and  perse veringly  practi'  ed, 
in  spite  of  the  obstacles  raised  by  her  kindred.  Sundays  and  holi- 
days beheld  her  the  sport  of  their  hatred  and  cruelty :  refusing  to 
work  in  the  fields,  she  was  compelled  to  fast,  for  they  deprived  her 
of  food.  She  was  pointed  at  by  the  children,  and  called,  in  derision, 
"  the  Christian."  A  furious  brave  once  dashed  into  the  cabin  to 
tomahawk  her,  but  awed  by  her  calm  and  dignified  mien  as  she 
knelt  to  receive  the  blow,  he  slunk  back  as  from  a  superior  being. 

This  was  not  enough  :  calumny  now  raised  its  viper-head  against 
hor,  and,  though  Father  James  was  convinced  of  her  innocence,  she 
still  had  much  to  suffer.  Amid  this  strife,  with  no  Catholic  ex- 
ample around  her,  deprived  of  all  sympathy,  she  longed  to  reach 
Laprairie  de  la  Madeleine,  and  even  those  convents  of  Ville  Mane 
and  Quebec,  of  which  she  had  heard.    Accordingly,  when  the  great 

12* 


274 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


.■■I 


Mohawk  returned,  in  1G77,  with  tlie  Oneida,  Garonhiague,  and  one 
of  her  own  relatives,  she  escaped,  ahhoiigh  her  uncle,  discovering 
her  flight,  pursued  her  armed  for  her  destruction,  and  passed  within 
a  few  steps  of  her  place  of  concealment. 

Deprived  thus  of  the  fairest  blossom  in  liis  mission,  Father  Lani- 
berville  continued  his  labors  at  Caughnawaga.  Bruyas,  at  Tin- 
niontoguen,  was  replaced,  in  1679,  by  Father  Francis  Vaillant  dii 
Gueslis,  who  seems  to  have  continued  it  till  the  close  of  1081,  when 
a  hostile  spirit  began  to  evince  itself,  attributable,  in  some  degree, 
to  English  influence.  Most  of  the  Christians,  too,  had  emigrated, 
and  it  was  probably  deemed  better  to  leave  it  for  a  time,  as  wni' 
was  about  to  commence  with  the  western  cantons.*  AVhatever 
was  the  precise  time  or  cause  of  the  withdrawal  of  the  missionaries, 
it  was  final ;  for,  as  we  shall  see,  they  never  returned,  though  Fa- 
ther Vaillai  t,  at  a  later  j^eriod,  made  an  ineffectual  effort  to  reach 
his  former  neophytes.f 


;|-,. 


i, 


*  In  the  census  of  1681,  Poor's  Paris  Doc.  III.  88,  the  Jesuits  among  the 
Iroquois  arc  put  down  at  ten,  wliich  must  have  included  lay-brothers*,  yet 
bIiows  that  the  missions  were  still  continued  on  the  original  footing.  De  hi 
Barre  held  his  council  of  war  in  October,  1682. 

t  Fatlier  James  Bruyas,  apparently  of  Lyons,  one  of  those  most  connected 
with  the  last  Mohawk  mission,  arrived  at  Quebec  on  the  3d  of  August,  1066, 
and  on  the  14th  of  July  following  set  out  for  the  Mohawk.  After  laboring 
among  the  Mohawks,  Oneidas,  and  Onondagas,  he  was  stationed  at  SautSt. 
Louis.  lie  was  Superior  of  all  the  missions  from  1693  to  1699,  was  envoy  to 
Boston  in  1700,  to  Onondaga  in  1701  and  1702.  His  death  was  subsequent 
to  1703.  He  was  the  best  philologist  of  the  Mohawk  language,  and  compiled 
many  valuable  works  on  it  and  in  it.  Hennepin  journeyed  from  Quinte  to 
the  Mohawk  to  copy  his  dictionary,  and  Cotton  Mather  had  a  copy  of  his 
Iroquois  Catechism  in  his  hands. — Mag.  Christi.  Jlennepin's  Discovery.  Of 
these  there  still  exist  in  manuscript,  "  Jiacines  Agnieres,''''  radical  words  of  the 
Mohawk  language,  a  French  Mohawk  Dictionary,  and  a  Mohawk  Catechism ; 
the  former  of  which,  a  precious  philological  work,  has  been  loaned  to  me  by 
the  Kev.  J.  Marcoux,  the  present  pastor  of  Caughnawaga,  or  Saut  St.  Louis, 
on  the  St.  Lawrence. 


assed  within 


CHAPTER   XV. 


aits  among  the 
ir-brotliers,  yet 


THE     IROQUOIS    MISSION (CONTINUED.) 

I.   The  Onkida   Mibsion— Its    sterility — Conferences— Conversions— Milet   succeeds 

Bniyas— His  long  apostolatc. II.  The  Onondaga  Mission— Gamier  and  his  labors 

—Milet— His  skill  and  succces- Advice  of  Garaconti6— Overthrow  of  worship  of 
Agroskoue  — Meeting  of  Iroquois  missionaries  at  Onondaga— Baptism  of  Garacontio  at 
Qiubec— His  firmness  at  Onondagf\— His  ell'orts  for  Christianity — A  Huron  missionary 
— Fatlicr  John  de  Lambcrville  succeeds  Milet — Garacontio;  his  sickness,  recovery, 
visit  to  Frontenac,  fervor,  final  sickness  and  death— Bruyas  at  Onondaga — The  Lum- 

liervilles. III.  The  CAvrcA  Mission — F.  Stephen  de  Carheil— His  unavailing  labors 

— Afflictions— Fulls  sick— Succeeded  by  Kafleix— Kecovers  and  returns— Conversion 

of  Saonichiogwan — Expulsion  of  de  Carheil. IV.  The  Seneca  Mibsion- Laborsof 

Fremin- Succeeded  by  Gamier— The  Huron  Christians— Peril  of  the  missionaries- 
Fathers  Kaffeix  and  Picrron— La  Salle,  und  the  effect  of  his  visit — Expulsion  of  the 
missionaries. 

« 

I. — The  Oneida  Mission. 

The  Oneida  mission,  founded  by  Father  Bruyas,  never  repaid 
the  toil  of  the  apostolic  men  employed  upon  it.  This  clan  was 
ever  noted  for  its  intractable,  ungovernable  spirit,  e\nnced  even  in 
the  concerns  of  the  league.  To  the  faith  they  were  always  opposed. 
When  Bruyas  began  his  mission,  the  Mohegans  and  Conestogues 
both  pressed  the  Oneidas  so  hard  that  famine  desolated  the 
canton.  Still  no  change  was  operated  in  their  hearts ;  even  some 
Christians  apostatized ;  and  the  missionary,  living  on  dried  frogs 
and  herbs,  had  no  consolation  but  the  baptism  of  some  dying  chil- 
dien,  and  the  piety  of  a  few  old  Christians.*  During  other  years 
he  was  in  constant  peril  from  the  intoxicated  braves ;  for  at  one  time, 
in  less  than  three  months  sixty  casks  of  rum  were  consumed  in  one 
village.  At  such  periods  he  was  compelled  to  retire  to  a  kind  of 
hermitage  by  the  lake,  or  even  to  Onondaga. 

*  Rel.  1668-9,  p.  80. 


« 


276 


AMERICAN   CATILOIA  )   MISSIONS. 


HH'    I 


i 

. 

1 

( 

i 

\ 

:. 

\  i; 

1 .1 


;  V 


On  Christmas  day,  1GC9,  lie  for  the  first  time  baptized  an  adult 
in  health  ;  for  hitherto  only  the  dying,  or  the  prisoner  at  the  stake, 
had  received  the  sacranient.  CJiving  it  all  the  pomp  his  poverty 
pemiitted,  he  drew  crowds  to  his  chapel,  and  fioni  morn  to  night 
preached  and  instructed.*  No  conversions,  however,  followed 
this  commencement;  and,  as  death  gradually  thinned  the  little 
band  of  old  Huron  Christians,  there  seemed  no  hope  of  eventual 
success.f 

In  16 VI  his  Superiors,  conscious  of  his  worth,  appointed  him 
Superior  of  the  Iroquois  missions ;  and  Bruyas,  summoning  Father 
Milet  from  Onondaga  to  supply  his  place,  proceeded  to  the  Mo- 
hawk. Just  before  his  departure  he  had,  during  an  idle  season  in 
the  year,  begun  a  series  of  conferences  which  wese  well  attended, 
and  produced  a  result  which  he  had  not  dared  to  anticipate.  Some 
aged  chiefs  embraced  the  faith,  and  such  a  spirit  of  inquiry  was 
excited  that  Milet  found  a  better  field  than  he  had  at  first  been  led 
to  expect.  On  the  day  of  his  arrival  he  baptized  a  dying  woman, 
and  soon  after  formed  a  regular  congregation,  w^^/^re  the  Lord's 
day  was  sanctified  by  the  celebration  of  Mass,  while  from  the  choirs 
rose  the  alternate  chants  of  the  Huron  and  Oneida  Christians.  The 
missionary  himself  became  so  popular,  that  he  too,  like  Pien-on  on 
the  Mohawk,  persuaded  the  sachems  to  forbid  all  invocation  of 
Agreskoue,  and  was  himself  invited  to  open  their  assemblies  by 
a  prayer  to  the  Maker  of  all  things.J 

The  sodality  of  the  Holy  Family,  founded  in  Canada  by  Chau- 
monot,  had  everywhere  produced  great  good.  Milet  established 
it  at  Oneida,  and  was  consoled  by  the  effect  it  procured.  The 
women  especially  became  more  fervent,  and  gained  others  to  the 
faith.  Sensible  of  the  danger  attending  union  with  unbelievers, 
Christian  maidens  and  Avidows  rejected  the  best  marriages  m 
the  village  sooner  than  peril  their  faith,  preferring  the  helpless 

*  Rel.  1669-70,  p.  193.         t  Rel.  1670-1,  ch.  ii.         %  Rel.  1672-8,  MS. 


TRENCH   MISSIONS. 


277 


and  tlegraded  state  of  lone  woinrn  to  the  plenty  of  a  chieftain's 
lodge.* 

In  1675,  he  converted  Soenrese,  a  chief  whose  manly  courage 
ill  defence  of  the  faith,  and  zealous  opposition  to  debauchery  and 
vice,  did  much  to  raise  the  character  of  the  Chrislians.f  Borne 
up  by  occasional  consolations  like  these,  Milet  continued  his  mis- 
sion till  the  prospect  of  a  war  became  too  certain  to  make  a  fur- 
ther stay  prudent.  He  was  then  recalled,  after  an  apostolate  in 
the  canton  of  nearly  fourteen  years,  and  reached  the  camp  of  Do 
la  Barre  in  July,  1684.  With  his  departure  closed  the  Oneida 
mission,  half  restored,  indeed,  for  a  time,  by  his  long  captivity,  of 
which  we  shall  soon  speak.  m 


II. — The  Onondaoa  Mission. 

The  Onondaora  mission  had  always  been  legaided  as  the  most 
promising  of  all,  and  the  attention  of  all  tViends  of  the  mission 
turned  naturally  to  it.  The  influence  of  Garacontie  seemed  to 
iusure  the  triumph  of  the  gospel.  Gamier  began  his  labors  under 
happy  auspices,  but  soon  found  that  the  hopes  were  too  sanguine. 
The  knowledge  of  the  faith  implanted  by  the  missionaries  of  Ga- 
neutaa  had  almost  died  away  in  tlie  hearts  and  minds  of  the 
Onondagas.  Dreams  ruled  the  land.  The  Hurons  alone  were  to 
be  relied  upon ;  and  the  first  care  of  Gamier  was  to  revive  their 
fervor,  and  baptize  the  captive  and  prisoner,  whom  he  found 
means  to  instruct.  Milet  came  at  last  to  his  relief;  and  possess- 
ing great  facility  for  languages,  soon  acquired  the  Onondaga  suffi- 
ciently to  catechize.J  In  the  following  year,  Milet  was  left  alone. 
Gamier  having  proceeded  to  the  Seneca  country  to  aid  Fremin  in 
that  populous  tribe.  Milet,  to  whom  the  Onondagas  gave  the 
name  Teharonhiagannra,  "  The  one  who  looks  up  to  heaven,"  un- 


*  Rel.  1672-3,  MS. 

t  Etut  present,  1695,  MS. ;  Kel.  1676,  MS. 


X  Rel.  1G6S-9,  p.  ;37. 


t  1 


If 


■    f 


278 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


'ilii 


pj 


1^  I 


(ierstood  tlie  Indian  chaiactor  well.  Like  a  chief,  ho,  by  liis  cries 
through  tlie  street,  gatliei'od  the  old  and  young  to  his  loiige,  and 
there,  by  symbolic  presents,  belts  of  wampum,  and  other  devices, 
announced  the  faith.  On  the  approach  of  Christmas,  he  gave  in- 
structions on  the  Creation,  the  Trinity,  the  Incarnation,  birth  and 
mission  of  Christ,  and  denounced  the  worship  of  Agreskoue,  and 
of  dreams.  These  denunciations  first  produced  their  eti'ect.  Hence- 
forward he  opened  their  councils  with  prayer. 

Garacontie,  anxious  for  the  conversion  of  the  tribe,  advised 
Milet  to  instruct  the  old,  and  not  give  all  his  time  to  the  young. 
Delighted  at  the  opportunity,  Milet  offered  to  begin  the  next  Sun- 
day, and  Garacontie  invited  all  to  a  feast.  The  cabin  was  adorned 
with  all  the  skill  the  time  permitted.  A  fine  wampum  belt  hung 
in  the  middle  of  the  wall,  with  a  map  of  the  world  on  one  side, 
and  a  picture  of  St.  Louis  on  the  other.  Below  the  belt,  on  a 
table  covered  with  a  crimson  cloth,  was  a  Bible,  and  upon  it  a 
crucifix,  with  emblems  of  superstition  below. 

When  the  guests  had  assembled,  Garacontie  addressed  them, 
explaining  the  object  of  the  feast.  Then  Milet  himself  declared 
the  greatness  of  the  one  true  God,  adored  by  both  king  and  pea- 
sant, the  Creator  of  all,  the  Master  of  life  and  death,  and,  with 
every  argument,  inculcated  the  necessity  of  serving  him.  The 
sachems  listened  with  pleasure,  and  regularly  convened  to  hear 
him,  so  that  by  Christmas  he  was  obliged  to  increase  his  chapel, 
and  borrowing  the  bell  of  the  old  mission  at  Ganentaa,  rang  it  for 
the  sachems  and  braves,  while  the  children,  answering  a  smaller 
one,  sang  as  they  ran  along — "  There  is  but  one  God,  the  master 
of  life."  "  In  heaven  are  all  good  things,  and  endless  happiness : 
in  hell,  fire  and  eternal  torments." 

When  insulted,  Milet,  by  assuming  a  high  tone,  was  soon  re- 
spected, and  the  medicine-men  quailed  before  him,  for  his  wit  was 
keen.  His  presence  was  a  sure  stop  to  their  incantations.  Some- 
times they  excluded  him,  but  he  a]>pealed  to  the  sachems,  an<i 

9 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


279 


they  were  condemned.  In  that  council,  Garacontie,  to  appease 
him,  reminded  him  that  Ag'^^skoue  was  no  longer  mentioned,  and 
all  })romised  to  prevent  improper  dances,  or  public  honor  to 
dreams.  An  eft'ort  was  indeed  made  in  favor  of  the  old  customs; 
but  Milet  at  last  prevailed,  though  he  could  not  suppress  the  On- 
nonhouaroia,  a  soil  of  carnival,  productive  of  great  disorder.* 

In  August,  16G9,  the  Superior  of  the  Iroquois  missions  sum- 
moned all  the  Fathers  to  meet  at  Onondaga;  and  Fremin  from 
Gandachiragou^  Gamier  from  Gandougarae  (both  Seneca  towns), 
Bruyas  from  Oneida,  PieiTon  from  the  Mohawk,  and  do  Carheil 
from  Cayuga,  all  joined  Milet  at  Onondaga.  After  a  short  time 
spent  in  prayer,  and  the  solace  afforded  by  each  other's  company, 
after  so  long  a  banishment  from  civilized  life,  they  drew  up  a  uni- 
form pljin  for  their  missions,  and,  aided  by  each  other's  lights  and 
suggestions,  after  six  days'  deliberation,  returned  to  their  solitary 
posts  to  resume  their  toil  amid  the  motley  population  of  the  Iro- 
quois towns,  peopled  by  fragments  of  conquered  tribes,  often  out- 
numbeiing  in  the  mass  the  native  Iroquois. 

The  Hurons,  who  throughout  fonned  a  large  body,  were  the 
gi'eat  consolation  of  the  missionaries.  Here  one  would  meet  an 
old  Christian  like  Francis  Tehoronhiongo,  who,  baptized  in  his 
ov,n  land  by  the  martyred  Brebeuf,  afterwards  a  host  of  Father 
Le  Moyne,  had  never,  for  twenty-seven  years,  missed  his  prayei*s, 
and,  though  without  a  spiritual  guide  during  most  of  that  long 
captivity,  had  brought  up  his  family  in  the  practice  of  piety.f 
Here  a  Huron  woman  converts  her  Iroquois  husband,  and  inspires 
him  with  such  a  desire  for  baptism,  that  he  sets  out  for  Montreal, 
and  meeting  a  missionary,  bursts  into  a  chant  of  joy  and  triumph. 


*  Eel.  1669-70,  p.  207. 

+  This  excellent  man  subsequently  removed  to  the  Sulpltian  mission,  nt 
the  Mountain  of  Montreal,  and  died  there  at  an  advanced  age.  He  was 
buried  in  one  of  the  towers  of  the  fort  still  or  quite  recently  standins,  at 
what  is  called  the  Priests'  Farm. 


280 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


1 

•! 

I' 

■  1 

■}■  1 ,. 

I 

:       :    _  '■' 

While  the  missionaries  tlius  pursued  their  «|uiet  way,  others 
reaped  at  Quebec  the  fruit  of  tlieir  toil.  A  murder  cominitted  by 
some  French  miscreants  on  an  Iroquois  chief,  and  collisions  be- 
tween the  cantons  and  the  Ottawas,  led  to  an  assembly  of  chiefs 
at  that  city.  Garacontie  set  out  with  the  deputies  of  all  the 
western  cantons,  except  the  Senecas,  Avho  were  really  the  offend- 
ing party. 

After  a  long  and  important  conference,  the  Governor  restored 
peace,  and  ordered  the  prisoners  taken  by  the  Senecas  to  be  re- 
stored. In  the  course  of  the  treaty,  Garacontie  inveighed  in  no 
measured  terms  against  the  manner  in  Avhich  the  Ottawas  treated 
their  missionaries,  whose  zeal  and  devotedness  he  eulogized  in  the 
highest  terms.  He  then  declared  his  love  for  Christianity,  his 
long  examination  of  it  in  theory  and  practice,  and  at  last,  turnini; 
to  the  Bishop,  solicited  baptism.  Sudden  as  this  declaration  was, 
it  was  not  unexpected.  His  long  attention  to  the  instructions 
of  the  missionaries,  his  well-known  purity  of  life,  his  zeal  for 
tlie  conversion  of  his  countrymen, — all  induced  the  prelate  to 
comply.  * 

The  ceremony  was  performed  with  great  solemnity  in  the 
Cathedral  of  Quebec,  before  an  assemblage  such  as  the  French 
settlements  alone  could  show.  In  that  pile,  all  feudal  in  its  archi- 
tecture, amid  the  descendants  of  the  crusaders,  men  of  noble  line- 
age in  the  olden  world,  amid  Hurons  from  Montmorency,  Tionou- 
tates  from  Mackinaw,  Mohegans  from  the  Hudson,  Algonquins 
from  the  St.  Lawrence,  Chippeways  from  Lake  Superior,  and  Iro- 
quois from  every  tribe  along  the  Mohawk  and  Genesee,  stood 
Garacontie  to  receive  baptism  at  the  hands  of  Laval,  as  the  chief- 
tain Clovis  did  centuries  before  at  the  hands  of  Remy.  AVitli 
calm  attention,  he  followed  the  rite.  Clear  and  distinct  were  his 
responses  as  to  the  doctrines  he  would  embrace,  positive  to  stern- 
ness itself  his  declaration  of  adherence  to  Christianity.  Then, 
amid  the  thunder  of  the  cannon  of  Fort  St.  Ix)uis,  with  the  Gove'- 


s? 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


281 


nor  standing  by  as  his  sponsor,  the  waters  of  baptism  flowed  on 
his  head,  and  tlio  greatest  Iroquois  of  the  epoch,  tlie  virtual  head 
of  tlie  league,  was  now  the  Christian  Daniel  Garacontie.* 

Ere  long  he  was  in  his  native  Onondaga,  already  the  head  of 
the  Christian  party,  now  himself  a  Christian.  Accustomed  heie- 
tufore  to  preside  at  various  ceremonies  and  rites  peculiar  to  the 
tribes,  and  of  a  superstitious  or  doubtful  character,  he  announced 
his  resolution  to  take  no  part  in  them.  The  saturnalia  in  Fel)- 
ruary,  in  honor  of  Tharonhiawagon,  were  disregarded  by  him,  and 
wlien  the  subject  of  the  Onuonhouaroia  was  taken  up  in  the  coun- 
cil, he  rose  and  said  :  "  You  know  my  sentiments  on  this  point.  I 
have  but  to  tell  you,  once  and  for  all,  I  am  a  Christian."  With 
these  words,  he  left  the  cabin,  and  the  council  broke  up  without 
any  action  on  the  subject.f 

This  conduct  produced  a  great  change,  for  his  influence  was 
great,  recognized  even  by  the  English  governors  of  New  York, 
Avho  asked  his  mediation  to  effect  a  peace  between  the  Mohawks 
and  Mohegans.  At  Onondaga,  several  who  had  held  out  against 
their  convictions  from  pride  or  other  human  motives,  now  came 
forward ;  and  Garacontie  was  soon  able,  by  the  conversion  of  his 
wife,  to  render  his  cabin  entirely  Christian.^ 

On  returning  from  a  council  at  Quebec  and  in  one  at  Albany, 
Garacontie  nobly  professed  his  resolve  to  live  up  to  the  doctrines 
which  he  had  embraced.  In  a  dangerous  illness  which  surprised 
him  soon  after  his  retuni,  he  rejected  all  the  superstitions  of  the 
medicine-men,  and  when,  without  his  knowledge,  one  superetitious 
rite  was  j)erfonned  in  his  cabin,  he  no  sooner  knew  of  it  than  ho 
became  inconsolable.  "  Alas !"  said  he,  "  what  will  Teharonhia- 
gannra  (Milet)  say  of  me  ?     He  will  think  me  a  hypocrite ;  but  I 


*  Rel.  lti69-ro,  ch.  ii. 

+  This  circumstance  seems  to  show  that  he  was  really  a  sachem,  and  not 
merely  an  orator,  as  Lafitau  avers. 
;  U.-l.  I'wi'-l,  p.  55. 


282 


amj:hican  catholic  missions. 


I 


\>   i 


liave  too  much  licart,  and  have  promised  God  too  solemnly  ever 
to  relapse." 

On  every  occasion  wheie  an  opportunity  ottered,  he  raised  his 
voice  for  the  faith,  as  later  he  did  at  Montreal,  before  an  asscnihly 
of  ti-ve  hundred  deputies  of  ditferent  tribes,  asisembled  to  treat  with 
de  Courcelle,  and  at  which  he  was  present  as  Iroquois  deputy  to 
the  Ottawas.* 

On  his  return,  he  was  accompanied  by  a  zealous  Tionontate,  a 
deputy  theie.  Louis  Taondechoren  had  for  twenty  years  been 
"Dofrique,"  or  cliief  of  the  prayer,  in  the  Huron  mission  at  (Que- 
bec. In  an  apostolic  spirit,  lie  now  proceeded  to  the  Irofjuois  can- 
tons to  exhort  the  tribes  to  embrace  the  Christian  religion.  His 
excursion  was  not  unfruitful.  He  and  his  companions  were  joy- 
fully welcomed  as  valuable  auxiliaries  by  Father  John  de  Lambii- 
ville  at  Onondaga.  Their  days  were  spent  in  instructions  to  such 
as  could  come,  but  in  the  evening  they  gathered  all  around  theiii. 
Extending  their  labors  to  Oneida  and  the  Mohawk,  they  met  witli 
equal  success.  "  They  have  changed  the  face  of  my  little  church," 
writes  Bruyas,  from  the  Mohawk.  "  A  man  like  the  fervent  Iliii- 
nonskwen  would  be  worth  two  missionanes  like  me."  John  de 
Lamberville  was  now  at  Onondaga,  a  companion,  then  successor 
to  Milet,  enjoying  the  labors  of  the  latter,  who  had  given  the  mis- 
sion a  regular  form,  and  freed  the  Christians  from  all  intoxication 
and  debauchery ;  these  being,  in  fact,  matters  of  public  penanco. 
Of  extending  the  taith  by  the  conversion  of  the  rest  of  the  tiibe,  de 
Lamberville  wrote  despondingly.  "To  convert  tiie  upper  Iro- 
quois," says  he,  "  we  should  have  to  undertake  to  reduce  them  by 
two  arms — one  of  gold  and  the  other  of  steel :  I  mean,  gain  them 
by  presents,  and  subdue  them  by  fear  of  arms.  The  missionaiics 
have  neither  the  charms  of  tlie  one  nor  the  strength  of  the  other." 

Garacontie  was  their  stay.     After  his  baptism,  he  never  coni- 

*  Eel.  1671-2. 


FRE^X'U   MISSIONS. 


283 


mittcd  .1  ■wilful  fault,  nnd,  in  spite  <>f  the  clamors  of  a  faithful  but 
sc'ukliiig  wife,  sliowed  in  tho  woods  of  Auiorica  a  cliaractor  worthy 
(if  thu  primitivo  Church,  l»y  the  wondrous  union  of  niajjfnaniiuous 
virtues,  and  those  "  little  virtues''  Avhioii  i;ivc  })eaee  and  contidence 
to  all  around. 

His  religion  drew  upon  liiin  taunts  and  even  menaces  from  the 
dissolute  youth ;  but  his  acknowledge<l  sui)eriority  as  the  clearest 
head  and  best  statesman  in  the  cantons,  still  made  him  revered 
l>y  all  the  leading  men.  Ju  1072,  he  was  prostrated  by  a  danger- 
ous malady,  and  the  anxious  sachems  gathered  aiound  his  couch 
to  hear  his  dying  counsels,  liis  political  testament.  Milet  and  de 
Lainberville,  who,  like  most  of  the  missionaries,  possessed  some 
iik'dical  knowledge,  frequently  called  into  requisition,  succeeded 
bv  their  care  in  restorinir  him  to  liealth,  and  he  soon  after  set  out 
with  other  deputies  to  meet  Frontenac  at  Cataracouy,  where  that 
governor,  wishing  their  consent  to  erect  a  fort,  had  summoned 
them,  in  July,  10*73. 

Two  hundred  in  fact  came,  and  Frontenac,  attended  by  Fenelon 
and  D'Urfo,  urged  them  to  embrace  the  faith.  "  Children  !"  ex- 
claimed the  French  governor,  "  children  of  the  Onondagas,  Mo- 
liawks,  Oneidas,  Cayugas,  and  Senecas !  I  cannot  give  you  any 
advice  more  important  or  more  profitable  to  you  than  to  exhort 
you  to  become  Clnistians,  and  to  adore  the  same  God  as  we.  lie 
is  the  sovereign  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  the  absolute  master  of 
your  lives  and  properties,  who  hath  created  you,  who  preserves 
you,  who  furnishes  you  with  food  and  drink,  who  can  send  death 
among  you  in  a  moment,  inasmuch  as  he  is  almighty,  and  acts  as 
lie  willeth,  not  like  men  who  require  time,  but  in  an  instant,  and 
at  a  word.  In  fine,  he  can  render  you  happy  or  miserable,  as  he 
pleases.  This  God  is  called  Jesus,  and  the  Black-gowns  liere, 
who  are  his  ministers  and  interpreters,  will  teach  you  to  know 
him,  whenever  you  are  so  disposed.  I  leave  them  among  you 
and  in  your  villages  only  to  teach  you.     I  therefore  desiie  that 


284 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


h 


you  respect  thorn,  and  prevent  any  of  your  braves  daring  or  pro- 
sumini!;  t<>  injure  tliem  in  llie  slightest  di'gree  ;  for  I  shall  considtr 
the  injiuies  done  them  as  personal,  and  punish  them  as  such. 
Sachems!  give  herein  an  example  to  your  children,  as  your  judg- 
ment must  bo  sounder  than  theirs,  or,  at  least,  if  you  be  not  di^- 
])08ed  to  become  Christians,  do  not  prevent  them  becoming  so, 
and  learning  the  prayer  of  that  great  (jlod,  which  the  Jilack-gowiis 
will  te.'ich  them,  and  his  commandments." 

By  the  aid  of  (jiaracontie,  Father  de  Lamberville  converted 
another  chief  of  rank,  long  convinced,  but  too  addicted  to  dreains 
and  superstitions  to  obtain  the  favor  of  baptism.  Sickness  at  List 
showed  him  the  ineflicacy  of  the  arts  of  the  medicine-men.  He 
became  a  sincere  believer,  and  gave  up  all  his  treasured  okis  or 
charms.  More  consoling  to  the  missionary,  however,  was  tlie 
death  of  a  poor  blind  woman,  mangled  and  mutilated  by  an  ine- 
briate, and  abandoned  bv  all.  Nursed  and  tended  bv  the  mission- 
ary,  she  made  lier  time  of  sutfei  ing  a  canticle  of  hope,  and  expired 
bathed  in  the  sweetest  joy.* 

Soon  after,  Garacontie  again  opposed  the  superstitions  and 
dances,  and,  as  before,  did  much  to  check  them.  His  piety  was 
undiminished.  Though  his  cabin  was  half  a  league  from  tlie 
chapel,  he  attended  mass  regularly,  with  his  wife,  and  caught  a 
severe  cold  while  going  to  the  midnight  mass  on  Christmas-day, 
in  the  year  IGYS.f  It  soon  proved  serious,  and  he  prepared  for 
death.  On  that  festival  he  had,  as  if  foreseeing  his  speedy  release 
from  his  labors,  taken  up  a  picture  of  our  Lord,  at  the  feast  whicli 
he  gave  in  honor  of  the  day,  and  covering  it  with  kisses,  ex- 
claimed :  "  Behold  the  true  Master  of  our  lives !  Our  dreams  do 
not  give  us  long  life.  Jesus,  born  of  a  virgin !  thou  art  peerless 
in  beauty  !  Grant  that  we  may  sit  near  thee  in  heaven.  Chiis- 
tians,  remember  what  we  promised  him  in  baptism." 


*  Rel.  1672-;?,  MS. 


t  Rel.  1676. 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


285 


4.. 


As  lii.s  pulmonary  «lisojtsc'  *U'('l:in<l  itself  by  tlio  blood  he  raised, 
lie  went  to  tlio  inis,sionarv,  exclaimed  "'I  am  dead!"  and  mad«' 
wjiiit  ho  intended  as  a  last  general  confession,  with  every  mark  of 
sincere  pioty.  Anxious  to  'save  so  valuabh'  a  life,  the  missionary 
lavished  every  care  upon  him;  but  the  health  (»f  the  sachem  of 
Onondaga  had  been  broken  by  constant  labors  and  fatigues,  for 
lie  had  been  em})loyed  on  every  embassy  of  note  from  the  ( >noii- 
•  lagas  for  many  years,  and  figincd  constantly  at  Albany,  New 
V(;ik,  Cataracouy,  and  (Quebec, — the  zealous  friend  of  the  French, 
the  ardent  and  impetuous  child  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

When  he  found  his  death  near  at  hand,  ho  gave  his  last  coun- 
sels to  his  family,  and  ordering  liis  death-banquet  to  be  prepared, 
invited  to  it  the  sachems  and  chiefs  of  Onondaga.  In  liis  address, 
he  exhorted  them  to  live  in  peace  with  the  French,  and  to  turn 
their  arms  against  the  distant  Ontwagannha ;  to  become  Chris- 
tians, and  to  banish  liquor  from  the  canton.  Then,  turning  to  the 
missiouarv,  he  said :  "  Write  to  the  Governor  that  he  loses  the 
best  servant  lie  had  in  the  cantons  of  the  Iroquois ;  and  I  pray  my 
Lord  Bishop,  who  baptized  me,  and  all  the  missionaries,  to  pray 
that  my  stay  in  purgatory  may  not  be  long." 

After  this,  he  gave  the  missionary  directions  for  his  burial,  and 
then  prepared  for  his  last  passage.  His  agony  was  brief,  and,  as 
it  came  on,  he  exclaimed — "  Onne  ouage  che  ca" — Behold,  I  die  ! 
Then  all  fell  on  their  knees,  and  amid  their  prayers  he  expired. 
Contrary  to  custom,  he  was,  as  he  had  requested,  buried  in  a 
coffin,  in  an  ordinary  grave,  and  this  was  surmounted  by  a  lofty 
cross,  that  all  might  see  from  afar,  and  remember  that  Daniel  Gar- 
acoutio  was  a  Christian.  No  clothes,  no  bow,  no  hatchet  was 
buried  in  his  grave :  it  was  like  that  of  a  white  man. 

Thus  closed  the  career  of  one  of  the  most  I'emarkabh^  men  in 
Indian  annals, — eminent  as  a  Christian  statesman,  a  friend  of  his 
race,  and  an  ardent  laborer  in  the  cause  of  their  civilization.  .\ 
true  friend  of  peace,  he  more  than  once  saved  Canada  from  a  deo- 


>    ( 


^^-^^86 


AMEHICAX   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


luting  war.  To  induce  lii.s  countrymen  to  follow  his  ideas,  lie  cui. 
braced  many  European  haltits,  and,  tlioui,di  advanced  in  yeais, 
be/i^an  to  learn  to  read  and  write,  and  actually  made  consideraldf 
]>rogress.  Friendly  to  tho  French  from  the  first,  and  attracte<l  liy 
the  beauty  of  Christianity,  whose  inherent  truth  he  felt,  (Jara(!oiit'n.' 
lonii^  ke})t  aloof,  and  betraye<l  no  sign  of  conversion,  either  because 
he  deemed  himself  not  sufficiently  aware  of  tho  obligations  im- 
posed by  baptism,  or  because  he  distrusted  his  own  strength  ;  hut 
when  once  he  had  received  the  character  of  a  Christian,  he  never 
swerved,  and  his  fidelity  won  even  the  admiration  of  the  colojiisis 
of  New  York,  although,  on  one  occasion,  his  zeal,  provokt-d  I'V 
the  taunts  then,  as  now,  often  launched  by  the  ignorant  Jiii'! 
silly  at  the  faith  of  the  majonty  of  Christians,  led  him  to  cut"  r 
the  meeting-house  at  Albany,  and  kneel  down  to  say  his  beads. 
When  commanded  to  leave  by  the  clergyman,  he  poignantly  re- 
joined— "  \\\\i\i !  will  you  not  let  men  pray  in  this  house  of  (Joil  • 
You  cannot  be  Chi'istians ;  you  do  not  love  the  prayer."* 

Ilis  death  was  heard  of  with  grief  by  the  missionaries  and  the 
entire  French  colony ;  and  even  the  English  deplored  tho  loss  of  a 
great  and  good  man,  though  not  an  adherent  of  their  cause. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  Garacontie,  Father  Bruyas,  the  Supe- 
rior, obliged  to  leave  the  Mohawk,  replaced  Father  John  do  Lain- 
berville  at  Onondaga,f  about  10*79;  but  his  stay  was  short,  for 
Father  John  soon  returned,  and  was  joined  by  his  brother  James 
from  the  Mohawk,  and  they  were  together  when  the  political  hori- 
zon darkened,  and  the  policy  of  Dongan  drove  them,  last  of  the 
missionaries,  from  the  land  of  the  Iroquois. 


*  Eel.  Icrs-O. 


t  Rel.  1673-9,  MS. 


):, 


FREXCII    MISSIONS. 


287 


III. — Tim  Cayioa  Miss 


lo: 


Tlie  mission  nmoiii^  thu  Cayuijfas  was,  as  we  liavo  soeii,  t'ouiulcfl 
\>\  Father  St»'j)hon  du  I'arhoii,  wlio  nocompairKMl  Milrt  to  Oiioii- 
ilai^a  I  I  1008,  and  (Iumk'u  |)roceotk'tl  to  Cayujn^a.  KatlhT  K«'iii' 
M^'uaril  had  Ix'tjim  a  njissioii  th'T*?  in  tiio  time  of  St.  Maiv's  ot' 
(iaiK'Utaa,  but  scarce!  a  traco  of  his  hibors  n'maincd,  cxct'iit  in  a 
ttw  Cin-istians,*  and  the  good-will  and  friendly  disposition  of  Saon- 


Ounncr  th 


d,  tiio  li 


of  til 


present  period,  tno  History  ot  tlie  mission 
is  a  liistorv  of  the  almost  fruitless  labors  of  de  Carheil;  for  thouMi 
lie  spoke  the  (Jayuga  with  elegance  and  ease,  possessed  the 
|:;ivate.st  missionary  talent,  and  was  regarded  by  French  and 
Indians  as  a  saint  and  a  genius,  ho  never  made  more  than  a  small 
imnil)er  of  converts.f  Arriving  at  Cayuga  on  tlio  0th  of  Novein- 
bor,  1008,  he  raised  a  chapel  on  the  9tli,  and  dedicated  it  to  St. 
Joseph.  With  a  knowledge  of  the  Huron,  which  all  could  under- 
stand, he  began  liis  instructions,  and,  though  at  first  scarce  re- 
garded, by  his  courage  in  acting  as  sentinel  in  times  of  danger, 
and  accompanying  them  when  attacked  by  the  Conestogues,  he 
won  their  esteem.  Keducing  the  Cayuga  language  to  roots  or 
radical  words,  he  soon  began  to  use  that  dialect,  and  drew  up  his 
formula  of  baptism  in  it. 

Three  villages — Goiogouen,  Kiohero,  and  Onnontare — were  the 
objects  of  his  care.  In  all  he  found  Ilurons,  some  of  them  Chris- 
tians, eager  to  profit  by  his  ministry,  others  inveterate  pagans. 
One  of  these  latter  liad  a  daughter  at  the  point  of  deatli.  In  vain 
de  Carheil  sought  to  baptize  her.  The  father  sternly  refused  : 
"You  speak  as  Echon  did  in  our  country.  He  killed  men  by 
water,  and  you  too  wish  to  do  flie  same."  Expelled  from  the 
cabin  at  the  coming  of  the  medicine-men,  he  bui*st  into  tears,  and 
when  the  child  died  he  was  inconsolable.     "All  that  night,"  he 


\ 


Eel.  1669-70,  ch.  ix. 


t  Charley,  li.  185. 

m 


::s 


288 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


writes,  "  my  heart  was  full  of  bitteniess.  I  could  not  sleep,  having 
constantly  before  me  the  loss  of  that  soul,  which  I  loved,  and 
would  have  saved,  but  which  was  now  lost.  Then,  better  tlian 
ever,  I  realized  the  affliction  of  the  heart  of  Jesus,  who  loved  all 
men,  and  wished  to  save  them,  yet  knew  the  prodigious  multitude 
of  those  who  should  be  lost."  So  inveterate,  indeed,  was  tins 
hatred  of  Christianity,  that  the  father  who  had  thus  lost  the  soul 
of  his  child,  attributed  its  death  to  Carheil,  and  sought  his  life. 

With  ^ther  supci-stitions  he  was  more  successful.  These  lie 
ridiculed,  and  often  rendered  so  absurd,  that  the  sick  were  ashamed 
to  use  them.  His  plan  was  not  to  argue,  but  to  seem  to  acquiesce, 
and  begin  a  ridiculous  prayer  to  the  pretended  god. 

Gradually  his  church  began  to  increase  in  numbei-s,  though 
slowly,*  and  sachems,  warriors,  women,  and  children  attended  his 
catechism  classes,  and  disputed  for  his  little  prizes.f  Baptisms  of 
adults,  some  obtained  only  after  great  exertion  and  trials,  began  to 
reward  and  console  him. J  Just  then  he  w^as  attacked  by  illness, 
and  was  compelled  to  return  to  Canada  in  1671.  Father  Peter 
Raffeix  was  sent  to  replace  him,  while  de  Carheil,  after  finding 
human  skill  unavailing,  made  a  pilgrimage  to  the  still  celebrated 
shrine  of  St.  Anne's,  and  obtained  a  deliverance  from  the  nervous 
disorder  which  afflicted  him.  On  this  he  returned  to  his  mission, 
and  Raffeix  proceeded  to  the  Seneca  country.  De  Carheil  found 
prejudice  still  deep-rooted  in  the  public  mind,  and  calumnies  of 
every  kind  spread  against  the  faith.  Some  consoling  conversions, 
liowever,  among  others,  that  of  a  young  chief,  gladdened  his 
heart ;  but,  unfortunately,  murder  and  license  rendered  them  few 
indeed.  The  tribe,  as  a  tribe,  never  seem  to  have  had  any  char- 
acter for  firainess  or  decision.  His  mission,  it  is  true,  gave  the 
greatest  number  of  infant  baptisms,  the  mothers  readily  presentini: 
their  children  when  sick,  so  that  here,  and  we  may  say  eveiy- 


*  Eel 


I  Ml 


.  1668-9,  p.  59.        t  Kel.  16G9-70,  p.  264.        X  Kel.  1670-1,  p.  W. 


■uStS^ 


'  '4- 


FIIENX'II    MISSIONS. 


289 


wl)ire,  the  number  of  baptisms  is  no  criterion  of  the  success  of  the 


mission. 


His  only  stay  was  the  chieftain  Saoncliiogwan,  who,  tliough  in- 
ferior in  many  respects  to  Garacontie,  seconded  all  his  etibits. 
hike  the  hero  of  Onondaga,  he  was  convinced  of  the  tiuth  of 
("liristianity,  which  he  had  learned  from  Menard  an<l  Chaumoiiot, 
as  now  from  de  Carheil,  for  all  had  been  liis  guests,  lie  wa.^ 
crafty,  pohtic,  and  shrewd,  and  though  he  liad  solicited  baptism, 
it  was  defeiTed  by  the  cautious  missionary.  In  the  spring  of  16*71, 
a  Seneca  embassy  was  sent  to  Quebec  to  restore  some  I'ottawata- 
niius,  whom  the  braves  of  the  western  canton  had  sui-prised  in 
violation  of  the  peace.  This  embassy  was  headed  by  Saonchiog- 
wan,  who,  after  concluding  the  negotiation,  solicited  l»ai)tism  from 
the  Bishop.  Instructed  and  examined  by  Chaumonot,  he  was 
fuuud  sufficiently  grounded,  and  baj>tized  by  the  name  of  Louis, 
the  Intendant,  Talon,  being  his  godfather.  Immediately  after  a 
solemn  feast  was  given  in  his  name  to  the  Indians  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Quebec.f 

The  Cayuga  mission  continued  in  this  way  for  several  years,  un- 
marked by  any  striking  event ;  the  obstinate  and  haughty  spirit  of 
the  people  continuing  the  same  as  ever  till  about  1684,  when  de 
Caiheil  was  plundered  of  every  thing  by  a  chief  named  Ilor- 
chouasse,  and  driven  from  the  canton  by  two  others.^ 


*  Rel.  1G71-2 ;  1072-3,  MS. ;  1075,  MS. ;  2073-9,  MS.     t  Rol.  1070-1,  cli.  i. 

t  Father  Stephen  do  Carheil  arrived  at  Quebec  on  the  Gth  of  August, 
inOG,  and  was  immediately  placed  with  the  Ilurons,  who  gave  him  the  name 
of  Aondeehete.  After  his  expulsion  from  Cayuga,  as  above  related,  he  was 
pciit  to  the  Ottawa  mission,  und,  as  wc  shall  see,  laboroel  there  for  nuxny 
years.  "  He  had  sacrificed  the  greatest  talents  in  the  hopes  of  bedewing 
(-aiiiula  with  his  blood — lie  labored  there  indcfatigably  for  more  than  sixty 
years — French  and  Indians  regarded  him  as  a  saint  and  a  genius  of  the 
liiirlii-st  order."'  As  a  i)liilologist,  he  was  remarkable.  lie  spoke  Huron 
nikl  Cayuga  with  the  greatest  elegance,  and  he  composed  valuable  works  in 
and  upon  both,  some  of  which  are  still  c.\tant.  Returning  to  Quebec,  lie 
(lied  there,  in  July,  1720,  at  a  very  a<lv  nood  ago. 


13 


?    I 


•* 


.-t 


290 


AiMKKlCAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


I 


IV. — The  Seneca  Mission. 

The  Sonoca  mission  l:iy  in  the  most  populous  of  the  cantons,  and 
olterfM.1  the  gi-eatost  liopes  of  success.'''-'  One  town,  Gandougarae,  was 
composed  of  Ilurons,  Neutrals,  and  Onnontiogas,  the  former  being  ;ill 
thi'  survivors  of  the  missions  of  St.  Michael  at  the  town  of  ScaiiD- 
naenrat,  jmd  St.  John  the  Baptist,  at  the  town  of  Kontarea  in 
Huronia.  During  the  mission  of  St.  Mary's  of  Ganentaa,  Fath.  i 
Chaumonot  visited  tltem,  and  revived  their  feelings  of  faith.  Wlnii 
the  new  missions  were  well  begun,  Father  Fremin  left  the  Mohawk, 
and  on  the  first  of  November,  1GG8,  was  received  at  Sonnontouan 
as  an  ambassador.  He  came,  however,  as  a  missionary,  and,  bulKl- 
ing  a  chapel,  soon  began  his  ministry  among  the  Ilurons.  His 
labors,  as  envoy  of  Onontio,  Avere,  however,  needed :  attack  aiitl 
reprisfd  had  taken  place  between  the  Senecas  and  Ottawas,  and  all 
Fremin's  exertions  were  needed  to  prevent  Seneca  war-parties  from 
taking  the  field.  Fortunately,  Father  Allouez  soon  after  arrived 
with  some  prisoners  taken  by  the  Ottawas,  whom  he  restored,  and 
thus  appeased  their  anger,f  and  a  final  arrangement  was  made  bv 
the  French  governor  at  the  council  which  Avitnessed  the  conversion 
of  Garacontie.  In  the  summer  of  1 609,  Fremin,  as  Superior  of  the 
Iroquois  missions,  called  the  meeting  at  Onondaga,  of  which  we 
have  spoken,  and,  finding  his  own  labors  too  gi'eat,  summoned 
Gamier  to  his  assistance,  and  assigned  him  the  town  of  Ganda- 

*  Having  given  specimens  of  other  Iroquois  dialects,  wo  add  that  of  tlie 
Senecas  from  Morgan's  version  of  the  New  Testament,  Matt.  vi.  9:  "Gwali- 
nih  gaoyah  gelislioh  chilidyoh  Daycsaalisaonyook  henisahsanandoffahdili. 
10.  Idweh  niis  no  saiwaligcli  ne  dwanolido  osha  gwen  niyuh  :  Neh  Iculi  nii^ 
heni  di  sanigoohdaah  nehhuh  niyawah  neyo  aujahgeh  naeh  hcnidyiilulaah 
ne  gaoyaligeh.  11.  D.igyoh  nrtgaAvanishadehnalidewanlshage  nogwaaliL'wiIi. 
12.  Neh,  kuh,  neh  dondagwai  walisagwus  nogwai  wanchakshah  naeli  iiiili 
hede  jakhiwahsagwahseli  nokliiwanehagih.  13.  Sanoh  kuh  nehhiiii  liasg- 
waah  hadyogwali  nigodaguh ;  nehgwa  sho  dagwayahdohnook  liayahdadeh 
naahnigoetgah." 

t  Rel.  166S-9,  p.  82. 


FllENCll   MISSIONS. 


291 


chirngou,  where  that  missionary  built  a  chapel  in  September,  wliilc 
Fromin  liimself  remained  at  Gandougarae.  In  both  places  mass 
was  said  daily,  and  the  Huron  catechists,  now  supported  by  the 
presence  of  a  missionary^  continued  with  new  zeal  the  labors  which 
liad  hitherto  kept  the  falih  alive.  James  Atondo  and  Francis 
Thoronhiongo  were  especially  eminent  in  the  band  of  old  Huron 
Christians.  The  pagans  soon  received  the  attention  of  the  mis- 
sionaries, who  here,  as  elsewhere,  took  every  means  to  instruct  the 
prisoners  brought  in  to  die.  Conestogues  were  frequently  burnt, 
and  always  instructed  and  baptized,  and  F'remin  found  one  who 
had  received  some  instructions  in  Catholic  doctrine,  probably  from 
the  Maryland  Fathers.*  Gamier  had  meanwhile  nearly  perished, 
having  been  fittacked  by  an  inebriate  at  Gandagaro ;  but  he  win- 
tered at  his  mission  of  Gandachiragou,  which  contained  only  three 
or  four  Christians,  studying  the  language,  compiling  a  dictionary, 
and  performing  such  missionary  duties  as  ho  could.f 

The  next  year  Fremin  was  recalled  to  the  St.  Lawrence,  and 
Garnier  was  left  alone  to  cope  w  ith  the  labors  of  the  mission,  Bruyas 
succeeding  as  Superior  of  all  the  Iroquois  missions.  New  ditK- 
culties  crowded  around  Garnier ;  the  village  of  Gandougarae,  or 
St.  Michael's,  was  burnt,  and  in  the  conflagration  the  missionary 
lost  his  chapel  and  all  that  it  contained ;  but  the  zeal  of  the 
Christians  repaired  all :  prayers  were  now  said  publicly  morning 
and  evening  in  all  the  towns ;  the  Christians  sternly  refused  all 
participation  in  superstitious  rites ;  and  many,  whom  pride  had  kept 
fiom  professing  Christianity,  began  to  yield.J  Soon  after  the 
sachems  of  Gandachiragou  publicly  declared  their  wish  to  pray  to 
God,  and  Garnier  conceived  hopes  of  effecting  a  great  change ;  but 


*  Tlieste  Conestogues,  commonly  called  by  the  French  Gandastoguos,  or, 
sliorter,  Andastes,  were,  in  all  probability,  the  Susquehannas;  and  might 
thus  liavo  been  objects  of  the  care  of  the  Jesuits  of  Maryland. 

t  Kol.  1669-70,  p.  283. 

t  Rel.  1670-1,  oh.  vi.  p.  70. 


292 


AMKUICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


ik 


? 


the  liorizon  was  suddenly  darkened  by  rumors  of  a  French  inva- 
sion, and  the  shinders  raised  against  the  t'aitli  by  a  Cayuga  brave. 
No  longer  an  object  of  esteem,  (jrarnier  was  suspected,  even  by  tin- 
chief  in  whose  cabin  he  dwelt,  and  t^ie  death  of  the  chieftainV 
niece,  who  then  lay  sick,  or  any  clearer  rumor  of  wai',  would  liuvc 
led  to  the  massacre  of  the  Black-gown,  whose  assiduity  in  piayci'. 
at  this  crisis,  lieightened  suspicion. 

The  faithful  Ilurons  of  St.  Michael  and  St.  John  wel'c  liis  con- 
solation ;  though  longing  to  rejoin  their  countrymen  at  Notre  1  kuw 
de  Foye  near  Quebec,  they  bore  their  exile  with  submission  to  the 
will  of  God,  and  sought  comfort  in  his  service  ;  Garnier  was  iu>t. 
liowever,  doomed  to  remain  longer  alone. 

Father  RafFeix,  leaving  Lake  Tiohero  and  the  banks  of  the  Oclioii- 
guen  (Oswego),  reached  the  Seneca  mission  of  the  Conception  in 
July,  aTid  began  his  laboi's  there,  not  borne  up  by  any  ignorant  en- 
thusiasm, but  well  aware  of  the  forbidding  toil  which  awaited  him. 
"  To  expect  that  a  whole  tribe  will  convert  at  once,"  he  says,  "  or 
to  hope  to  make  Christians  by  the  hundred  or  thousand,  is  to  lio- 
ceive  one's  self.  Canada  is  not  a  land  of  flowers ;  to  find  one  you 
must  walk  far,  through  thorny  paths." 

A  third  town,  St.  James,  contained  several  Christians,  who 
anxiously  begged  for  a  n)issionary,  and  Father  John  Pierron,  whom 
we  have  already  seen  among  the  Mohawks,  was  sent  to  it,  and  the 
Seneca  canton  was  thus  possessed  of  three  missionaiies.  By  their 
ingenious  zeal,  piety  soon  flourished  in  these  towns,  and  the  mission 
was  scarce  inferior  to  the  reductions  founded  on  the  banks  of  tlic 
St.  Lawrence.  Conversions  went  slowly  on,  contested  at  eveiystcn 
by  the  medicine-men,  who  so  won  on  the  minds  of  the  })o(ii»l<'. 
now  emboldened  by  their  triumphs  over  the  Conestogues,  that  th'- 
missionaries  were  often  actually  in  danjxer.  Garnier  was  accux-i 
of  sorcery,  and  as  accusation  and  condemnation  were  iicail; 
synonymous,  they  determined  to  tomahawk  him.  The  executions! 
was  named  and  paid,  but  God  averted  the  blow.    Rafteix  soiijzhtt" 


French  invii- 
'avuija  brave. 
.1,  eveu  by  tlio 
[he  chiL-rtainV 
ir,  wouUl  liiivc 
uity  in  pvaycr. 

wel'O  his  (•(•u- 
at  Notre  Daiiu- 
bmission  to  tlio 
iiniier  ^vas  nut, 

LSoftheOclioii- 
I  Con('-epti«.»u  in 
my  ignorant  in- 
ch awaited  liim. 
e,"  he  says,  "  or 
usand,  is  to  ilo- 
to  find  one  you 

Christians,  who 
1  Pierron,  \vl»om 
snt  to  it,  and  tho 
aries.     By  tbeir 
and  the  mission 
he  banks  of  tin- 
;ed  at  every  st.'p 
of  the  pool'l^'. 
stoguos,  that  til'' 
ier  was  ncf.UM"! 
on  were    iK'inly 
The  exocutit">^'i 
Raffeixsouirl't'" 


FEENCH  MISSIONS. 


298 


lead  a  dying  girl  to  truth,  but  such  was  the  hatred  then  prevailing 
ngainst  the  missionaries  that  she  sprang  from  her  sick  couch  and 
tore  his  face  with  her  nails  till  he  streamed  with  blood,  lie  did 
not,  however,  despair ;  continuing  his  visits,  his  kind  and  gentle 
manner  disabused  her.  She  listened,  was  convinced,  and,  to  his  con- 
solation, died  piously,  uttering  a  prayer  to  Jesus,  the  giver  of  life. 

The  French  occupation  of  Niagara  under  La  Salle  in  1G78,  and 
the  hostility  of  that  commander,  evinced  by  his  forcing  Father 
(iarnier  to  leave  a  council,  must  have  also  contributed  to  weaken 
tlie  influence  of  the  missionaries,  and  excite  distrust  of  the  French.* 
As  their  position  seemed  thus  more  precarious  than  ever,  they  used 
greater  caution  in  baptizing,  lest  any  should  afterwards  live  to  be 
brought  up  pagans.f 

Such  was  the  state  of  this  mission  when  the  Relations  close  in 
1079.];  Idolatry  was  generally  discountenanced  throughout  the 
cantons,  now  fully  instructed  in  the  mysteries  of  faith,  but  not 
courageous  enough  to  embrace  them.  The  life  of  the  missionaries 
for  some  years  had  been  perilous  indeed ;  they  were  often  treated 
witli  personal  violence,  and  had  even  been  frequently  doomed  to 
death  in  public  or  private  councils ;  yet  they  had  built  and  main- 
tained their  chapels,  and  worked  on  patiently  in  hope,  gradually 

*  Hennepin ;  La  Salle. 

t  llel.  1671-2;  1672-3,  MS.;  1675,  MS.;  1876,  MS.;  1673-9,  §  8,  MS. 
X  The  Relations  furnish  the  following  statistics  of  the  Irocjuoia  mission, 
wliich  -vvill  hardly  suit  those  who  accuse  the  missionaries  of  baptizing  b» 

wliolesiUe : 

Years.  Mohawks.  Oueidas.    Onondagas.    Cayiigas.  Senecas.  Total. 

lGt38-9 151  80  28  60  269 

16G9-70 53  40  87  120  250 

1G70-1 84  62  110  318 

1671-2 60  30            89  80  41  200 

1072-;i 72  34            30  65  70  261 

1'575 80  72  21  100  273 

167G-7 350 

1C77-8 300 

:=<  voars 2221 


294 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


gainino'  all  not  oonuptcd  by  del>auchorv  and  intoxication;  and 
baptizino-  the  dyiiii^  children  whom  thoy  conld  reach. 

Now  a  new  obstacle  was  to  arise;  Eng-land  and  France  were  lo 
dispute  the  valleys  v'i  the  Mohawk  and  Oswego,  and,  though 
both  then  governed  by  Catholic  sovereigns  and  their  colonies  l.y 
Catholic  governors,  the  missions  were  sacrificed.  Of  this  period 
we  shall  now  speak  generally,  after  giving  a  sketch  of  the  Ivediic- 
tion  of  Laprairie  and  the  Mission  of  the  Mountain  of  Montreal/'' 


*  As  this  was  the  close  of  Frcmin's  labors  iu  New  York,  wo  (jivo  sucli  ii 
sketch  of  the  missionary  as  we  are  able.  The  time  of  his  arrival  in  Caiiaihi 
is  unknown.  Sent  to  Onondaga  in  165C,  he  remained  till  the  close  of  iho 
first  mission,  in  March,  1658  ;  was  then  for  a  couple  of  years  at  Miscou ;  iic.xl 
at  Three  Rivers  and  Cape  de  la  Madeleine.  After  being  appointed  to  the 
projected  Cayuga  mission,  in  1666,  he  was  the  next  year  sent  to  the  Muhaw  k, 
where  he  remained  till  1671.  lie  was  placed  at  Laprairie  by  the  advice  of 
de  Courcelle,  and  made  several  voyages  to  France  in  its  behalf.  He  is  said 
to  have  been  again  in  the  Iroquois  missions  ;  and,  after  many  years  of  toil, 
he  died  on  the  2d  of  July,  16'Jl,  at  Quebec. 

Father  Julian  Gamier,  the  last  Seneca  missionary,  was  born  at  Coniiorai, 
in  the  diocese  of  Mans,  about  1640,  and  was  a  brotiicr  of  the  celebrated  Bi  nc- 
dictine  Garnicr.  He  came  to  Canada,  while  still  a  scholastic,  in  Oetul^er, 
1662,  and,  after  teaching  some  years,  completed  his  studies,  and  was  ordaiiicl 
in  April,  1666.  After  passing  with  success  liis  final  examination  in  16CS,  lie 
was  sent  to  the  Iroquois  missions,  and  labored  ut  Oneida,  Onondaga,  ami 
Seneca,  He  probably  returned  as  late  as  1702,  and  was  still  alive  in  17jl'. 
He  was  apparently  employed  also  on  the  Algonquin  missions.  Lafitau,  who 
derived  from  him  much  of  the  matter  of  his  work,  speaks  highly  of  his  zeal 
and  austerity.  Of  the  de  Lambervilles,  Milet,  and  le  Vaillant,  who  figure  iu 
the  later  mission,  little  is  known  beyond  their  labors  in  the  cantons. 

Father  Peter  Rafleix,  the  founder  of  Laprairie,  arrived  in  ill  health  in  ICoO: 
was  chaplain  in  the  expedition  against  the  Mohawks  iu  1665;  appointed  to 
go  to  Cayuga  in  166G.  In  the  following  year  he  was  at  Isle  Percce,  and,  alter 
founding  Laprairie,  labored  among  the  Cayugas  and  Seneeas  till  1680.  lie 
was  at  Quebec  in  1703,  broken  down  with  years  and  toil. 


V      3 

I 


f 


CHAPTER    XVI. 


IROQUOIS    MISSION (COXTIXLED.) 

TiieUeductioss  in  Canada. 1.  Lohette— Iroquois  there— La  rrt'riouso— Sogare^s  ; 

— I(.'n!itius  Tocachin. II.    St.  Francis  Xavier  ties  pros  and  ilii  SaiiU  or  Caiiirli- 

iiawotra — Its  origin— Founded  by  Father  K.iHVi.v — Catliarine  (ianneakti'iui-  »'.:ii(iii- 
hiiifruti  or  Hot  Cinders— Kryn,  the  Great  Mohawk— Life  at  tlie  niissiciu— Fervor  ol'iho 
Neophytes- Mode  of  instruction — Visit  of  IMslH)p  Laval — Uenioval  from  Laprairio  lo 
tjault  r?t.  Louis  or  Cauglinawaga — Catliarine  Teli-jalikwita — Iler  eminent  holiness 

Her  life  and  death — Keputation  for  miracles. III.  Quintk  IJay  and  tiik  Mdi  .n- 

TAiN  OF  Montreal — Sulpitian  missions  at  Qulnte  Bay— IJesifrned  to  Itecollects — l)e 
Belmont  founds  the  mission  of  Notre  Dame  des  Neijres — His  zeal — Mariuaret  llour- 
gcoys  and  lier  Indian  scliool — Success  of  this  mission— Mary  Barbara  Attontinon  iUid 
Mary  Theresa  Oanncnsagwas,  Indian  sisters  of  tlio  Congregation. 

1. LORETTE. 

The  Huron  mission  of  Lorottc  had  been  the  fust  r<'sort  of  the 
Christian  Iroquois,  who  resolved  to  become  pilgrims  of  the  faith. 
Tiio  Oyander  won  by  Fremin,  and  the  woman  tomahawked  by  the 
Moliogans,  who  so  long  resisted  his  exhortations,  botii  emigrated  to 
Lorette,  which  they  illustrated  by  their  piety;  and  the  former  gave 
birth  to  Ignatius  Tocachin,  a  child  whose  early  development,  apti- 
tude for  learning,  and  rare  childi.sh  piety,  are  the  theme  of  several 
caily  narratives.  Such  hopes  were  indeed  excited  that  it  was  ex- 
pected that  he  would  one  day  say  in  reality  the  Mass,  which  it  was 
liis  only  amusement  to  imitate,  showing  even  then  that  inci]>ieut 
Vocation  so  often  remarked  in  servants  of  God.  But  the  Aliniiihtv 
called  him  to  himself,  and  his  truly  Christian  mother,  who  had 
sacnficed  the  honors  of  her  birth  on  the  banks  of  the  Mohawk  to 
the  Giver  of  life,  now  bowed  without  a  murmur  to  this  new  .sac- 
rifice. Here  Catharine  Ganneaktena,  the  foundress  of  Lapi-airie, 
^^as  baptized.  Here  long  lived,  eminent  for  her  piety,  zeal,  and 
Christian  virtue,  Maiy  Tsawente,  whom  the  French  honored  with 
die  sui-name  of  "the  Precious."     She  enjoyed  in  life  and  death  the 


200 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


t      ■          • 

, 

1 

:; 

: 

reputation  of  a  saint,  and  was  indcod  a  model  of  self-devoted nfss 
and  charity.  Her  husband,  James  Soj^ait'sso,  was  a  worthy  imi- 
tator of  (iaronhiague,  and,  like  him,  frequently  visited  the  cantons 
to  announce  Christianity  to  his  pao-an  countrymen.* 

When,  however,  the  distinct  Ir<)»|uois  missions  were  well  ori>;i!i- 
izcd,  the  number  at  Lorette  decreased,  and  it  became  exclusively 
Huron. 

II. — Mission  of  St.  Francis  Xavieii  dks  pres. 

Opposite  Montreal  lay  a  fine  open  tract  extending  for  several 
miles,  which  early  obtained  the  name  of  Laprairie  :  it  was,  at  fiist, 
allotted  to  de  la  P'erte,  Abbe  de  la  Madeleine,  a  member  of  the 
So(;ietv  of  a  hundred,  who  for  a  time  controlled  the  destinies  of 
Canada.  l.)eej)ly  interested  in  the  success  of  the  missions,  he  suli- 
sequently  bestowed  this  tract  on  the  Jesuit  Fathers,  in  whose  name 
it  still  stands,  though  actually  seized  by  the  British  government. 

The  position  was  too  exposed  to  be  soon  settled,  and  it  was  not 
till  towards  1669  that  the  missionaries  resolved  to  begin  a  resi- 
dence there  as  a  resort  for  the  missionaries  on  the  upper  lakes,  and 
in  the  Iroquois  cantons,  to  which  they  might  retire  for  their  annu.'il 
retreats,  or  in  case  of  sickness.  When,  however,  Father  Ratfeix 
proceeded  to  the  spot  to  begin  the  village,  a  new  idea  presented 
itself.  The  faith  was  now  advancing  in  the  Iroquois  cantons ;  but 
the  missionaries  saw  with  deep  affliction  that  the  Indian  convert, 
whose  instruction  and  conversion  had  cost  so  many  an  anxious  hour, 
was  often  lost  by  the  bad  example  and  corrupting  influence  of  liis 
pagan  countrymen,  already  depraved  by  connection  with  the  whites, 
and  maddened  by  the  liquor  supplied  by  the  New  York  tiadeis. 
Often,  too,  the  converts  were  subjected  to  a  constant  persecutioi) 
fiom  their  own  kindred.  No  sooner,  then,  were  the  missiona 
founded,  than  many  saw  that  if  they  wished  to  fulfil  their  bap- 

*  Rel.  1673  t',  MS. 


FKENCll   MISSIONS. 


207 


tismal  vows,  and  enjoy  the  t^osjX'l  iti  peace,  tlicy  must  <ro  forth,  like 
Abniliam,  from  tlieir  idolatrous  kindr*'  1,  and  seek  a  iww  lioiuc, 
wliere,  freed  from  such  c.\ami>le,  ichi^io..  and  virtue  might  alone 
possess  their  hearts. 

At  the  moment,  Lorctte,  the  Huron  colony  near  Quebec,  seemed 
the  surest  refuge,  as  there,  under  the  zealous  and  lioly  Chaumonot, 
piety  and  order  flourished.  Hither,  accordingly,  the  first  pilgrims 
npaired ;  but,  as  they  passed  at  Laju'airie  the  little  chapel  raist-d 
l)V  liatieix,  that  missionary  conceived  the  project  of  forming  around 
it  a  Christian  reduction  to  rival  Lorette  or  Sillery.  Tlie  governor, 
seeing  the  political  advantage  of  the  step,  eagerly  encouraged  it, 
and  induced  the  realization  of  his  plan  on  a  more  extended  scale. 

Cathaiine  Ganneaktena,  the  liostess  of  Bruyas  at  Oneida,  where 
she,  an  Erie  girl,  had  been  adopted,  was  instructed  by  Father  liaf- 
feix  during  a  winter  at  Monlreal,  and  requested  by  him  to  begin 
the  new  colony.  Joined  by  most  of  her  family,  she,  on  their  con- 
version and  baptism,  came  to  Laprairie  from  Lorette  and  founded 
the  first  Iroquois  reduction,  which  assumed  the  name  of  St.  Francis 
Xavier  des  pres,  probably  at  the  close  of  1G69,  for  none  had  settled 
there  in  the  middle  of  that  year^  the  chapel  being  visited  only  by 
the  wandering  hunter. 

Catharine  was  well  worthy  of  the  honor  of  founding  so  celebrated 
a  reduction.  Amid  the  seductions  of  an  Indian  village,  her  life  had 
been  blameless  before  marriage,  and  after  her  union  with  the 
Christian  Francis  Tonsahoten,  she  overcame,  by  her  mild  and  win- 
ning ways,  his  fierce  and  intractable  temper,  acquiring  such  an 
ascendency  over  him  that  her  whisper  was  his  law,  yet  using  it 
always  for  his  good.  No  sooner  did  she  know  the  faith  than  she 
embraced  it ;  but,  as  we  have  seen,  retired  from  the  pei"secution  of 
her  family  to  Canada.  Her  cabin  at  Laprairie  was  ever  hospitably 
open  to  French  and  Indian,  the  latter  being  immediately  objects 
of  her  zealous  care ;  for  she  became  at  once  a  catechist. 

Others  soon  gathered  around  her,  won  by  her  arguments  or  her 

13* 


298 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


virtues;  and  the  little  colony  rcoeivod  constant  accessions  tVtmi 
Loretto,  or  the  missions  in  the  cantons.  In  1070  it  containt-ti 
cightoon  or  twenty  t'aniilios — in  all,  sixty  souls;  and  havinij;  thus 
attained  considerable  size  and  importance,  a  govermnent  was  or- 
ganized, and  two  chicls  elected — one  for  prayer  and  one  tor  gu\- 
ernment.*  When  Kati'eix  was  sent  to  Cayuga,  in  1071,  Freniin 
was  recalled,  at  the  request  of  de  Courcelle,  who  deemed  him  hcM 
litted  to  insure  the  success  of  the  new  village.  That  missionary, 
after  witnessing  with  joy  the  good  ahoady  done,  hastened  (•» 
France  to  obtain  such  aid  as  would  enable  him  to  carry  out  tli<' 
plan.  During  his  absence,  Father  I'eter  Cholenek  was  station«t| 
there,  and  ho  describes  in  glowing  colors  the  faith  and  fervor  of 
the  little  colony  at  his  arrival.  AHhougli  within  sight  of  tluir 
lodges  stood  a  taveni,  where  constant  scenes  of  riot  met  their  eyes, 
not  a  drop  of  liquor  entered  their  cabins.  Yet  fifty,  at  least,  had 
been  notorious  inebriates.f 

At  fii"st  the  emigration  was  chiefly  from  Oneida.  Among  the 
most  illustrious  who  came  was  Ogeratarihen  or  Garonhiague, 
known  to  the  French  by  *ho  name  of  La  cendre  chaude  or  La  poudre 
chaude.  Beside  the  stalie  of  Brebeuf  lie  had  stood  a  mocker  of 
the  Christian's  hope ;  now,  in  the  designs  of  God,  he  was  des- 
tined to  be  himself  an  apostle  of  the  faith.  Quarrelling  with 
another  Oneida  sachem,  he  withdrew  towards  the  French,  and 
soon  after  hearing  of  his  brother's  death,  resolved  never  to  return. 
In  his  rambles  he  stoi)ped  at  Laprairie,  and  there  his  wife,  soon 
won  to  tlie  faith,  lost  no  time  in  bringing  to  it  a  husband  whoso 
fidelity  to  her  had  never  wavered. 

Not  long  after  his  baptism  he  was  elected  the  fourth  chief,  for 
the  number  was  now  increased,  and,  though  the  youngest,  became 
really  the  head  chief  of  the  mission,  a  rank  which  he  was  too 
diflSdent  to  seek.     A  declared  enemy  of  fire-water,  ho  began  his 


*  Kel.  1670-1,  p.  39. 


t  Rel.  1671-2. 


I 


FKENCII 


'SSIONS. 


oflnrl.s  by  ingeniously  ovorsotlint^  .1  kcttlo  t>t'  li<pi<  :in  n»  „fa 
on<'ani|)niont  near  Montreal.  In  the  village  ins  oqiH'ijc*  tnd 
teivor  produced  such  etl'ects,  that  ho  was  nKid(3  a  li  hist  and 
when  some  pious  pictures  were  placed  in  his  hands,  represeuting 
vanous  mysteries,  ho  explained  them  so  lucidly  and  eloquently, 
that  the  heathen  were  converted,  and  the  tej)id  Christians  roused 
to  exertions  for  a  better  life. 

He  drew  many  of  his  old  adherents  from  Oneida,  but  the  Mo- 
hawk  sent  more.  Father  Jioniface,  during  his  mission,  saw  a 
party  of  forty  families  depart  for  Laprairit;  with  the  gr<'at  Mo- 
hawk,* as  we  have  already  mentione<l.  That  chieftain,  called 
Kryn  by  the  English,  was  a  worthy  assistant  of  Garonhiaguo,  and 
as  distinguished,  after  his  wonderful  conversion,  for  his  zeal  and 
piety  as  he  had  previously  been  for  his  opposition  to  Christianity. 
Both  he  and  Garonhiague  frequently  visited  their  own  cantons  to 
announce  the  faith,  and  invite  all  who  wished  eternal  happiness 
to  follow  them  to  Laprairie;  and  many  followed  them  indeed.+ 
Knn  led  a  large  party  from  (Jandawaguo  in  10 74,  and  again,  ap- 
parently, in  1676  ;  and  in  the  following  year  Garonhiaguo  enabled 
Catharine  Tehgahkwita  to  escape  from  the  same  place  to  Laprairie, 
henceforth  to  be  hallowed  by  her  virtues,  and  be  honored  by  her 
wonder-working  tomb. 

From  the  continual  wars  of  the  Iroquois,  these  Lew  settlei's, 
although  all  from  the  cantons  of  that  league,  were  in  many  cases 
Iroquois  only  by  adoption.  In  1674,  the  village  contained  repre- 
sentatives not  only  of  the  five  Iroquois  tnbes,  and  their  kindred 
Ilurons,  Tionontates,  Attiwandaronks,  Erics,  Conestogues,  but  also 
Abnakis,  Montagnais,  Mohegans,  Nipissings,  Sokokis,  Mascoutens, 
and  members  of  several  other  less  known  Algonquin  tribes.  As 
we  have  seen,  they  began  by  electing  a  chief,  and  adopting  a  form 


*  Rel.  1672-3. 

+  Etat  present,  1674,  MS. ;  Kip's  Jes.  Miss.  93;  Cholenek's  letter;  Dc  la 
I'otlierie,  ii. 


300 


AMKHICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


of  jfovennnont  like  that  of  the  cmitonM.  Tlit^  nuinbor  of  tlic  thuls 
was  soon  afh-r  iiicronscd  to  five,  and  Iuih  roinaiiiod  so  till  tlif 
prosont  time.  Tli*'  first  step  was  to  pass  lawH  oxcliKliiii;  all  \vli<> 
would  not  foi-swcar  t\u'  idolatrous  observance  of  dreams,  eliangiin:- 
of  wives,  and  diuukemiess. 

This  mission  now  rivalh'd  that  of  ParajLjuay.  Its  annals  dispLiy 
the  same  reirularitv  and  innoeeneo  of  life,  the  same  fervor  in  tlic 
practices  of  rvliixiou,  virtue?  carried  t<»  heroic  acts,  and  a  spirit  of 
mortification  and  penance  worthy  of  the  primitive!  Church. 

Tlio  missionaries  bejjan  their  instruction  in  religion  at  oncf ; 
tliey  did  not  seek  to  teach  the  Indians  to  read  and  write,  as  an  m- 
dispensable  prelude  to  Christianity.  That  they  left  for  times 
wlieu  greater  peace  would  render  it  feasible,  when  long  self-(;on- 
trol  had  made  the  children  less  avei*sG  to  the  task.  The  utti  r 
failure  of  their  Huron  seminary  at  Quebec,  as  well  as  of  all  the 
attempts  made  by  others  at  the  instance  of  the  French  court, 
showed  that  to  wait  till  the  Indians  were  a  reading  people,  would 
be  to  postpone  their  convei'sion  forever ;  and,  in  fact,  we  see  Elliott's 
Indian  Bible  outlive  the  pagan  tribes  for  whom  it  was  prepared. 

The  moile  of  instruction  adopted  by  the  missionaries  was  that 
of  sermons,  and  instructions  after  the  nature  of  conferences,  in 
which  objections  to  doctrine  are  raised  by  one  of  the  audience, 
and  answered  by  the  catechist.  Symbolical  pictures  were  em- 
ployed with  great  advantage  in  all  the  missions ;  those  which  the 
celebrated  le  Nobletz,  the  holy  missionary  of  the  Bas  Bretons,  had 
used  with  such  success  in  impressing  on  an  ignorant  peasantry  the 
truths  of  faith,  were  found  no  less  efficacious  here. 

These  instructions  were  not  always  given  by  the  missionaries ; 
the  chiefs  and  elders  of  the  tribe  themselves,  well  instructed  in  all 
the  points  of  Christian  doctrine  necessary  for  salvation,  became  in 
turn  catechists,  and  with  a  set  of  pictures  as  their  library,  ex- 
plained the  mysteries  of  faith,  the  Incarnation,  Redemption,  the 
Last  Judgment,  the  pains  of  hell,  the  joys  of  heaven.     Several  of 


FUKNCII    MI.SSIUNS. 


301 


[\w  early  cliict's  wciv  ciiiiiK'nt  as  dn^ntnifs  or  fatediist."*,  Iiut.  (Jn- 
i(iiiliiai,'uu  was  umivallt'tl  ainunir  tlifiii. 

Tlicsj'  instiiK^tioiis  iiia<l»'  tin*  jK-uplc  thoroiiirlily  a('«|uaiMt('«l  with 
mII  tliat  is  nocossarv  tor  salvation  with  the  coiiimaiHliiU'iits  and 
jirt'ccpts  of  n'liifioii.  All  <li<l  not  coinr  to  tin-  mission  well  dis- 
|i(»s»'d,  liut  nil  yi('M«'d  to  tim  t'crxor  of  tli»'  coiivtMls.  Many,  d<- 
spairod  of  in  their  native  cantons,  bccaiuc  hore  niod«ds  (»f  virtnf, 
while  othei*s,  risinj^  above  tiu;  path  of  the  pn'ci-jtfs,  soiiirjit  to  eui- 
hrace  the  counsels  also,  especially  after  the  wondert'ul  ( 'athariue 
Telii^ahkwita  had  set  tliein  so  glorious  an  exaniplo  in  iicr  extraor- 
(liiiarv  life. 

The  day  of  the  Christian  Inxpiois  heijan  with  the  morning 
prayer,  which  each  recited  in  liis  cabin  at  an  larly  lionr.  At  five 
all  rep.iired  to  the  chapel  to  visit  the  Savior  there  enshrined,  and 
pay  him  their  morninir  adoration.  If  :»  mass  was  sai<l  at  that 
Lour,  thev  heard  it,  and  returned  t<»  tiii'ir  cabins.  This  visit  was 
one  of  their  own  choice,  but  so  well  established  by  custom,  tliat  a 
fervent  woman  and  lier  dauuhters  punished,  by  a  severe  penance, 
tlieir  omission  of  it,  from  havinnr  over-sle})t  themselves  one  n^ornino;. 

The  village  mass  was  said  ni  sunrise.  This  all  heard  with  great 
piety,  chanting  hymns  and  various  devotional  acts,  intoned  by 
their  dogique  or  catechist,  and  sung  by  alternate  choirs  of  men 
and  women. 

After  the  service,  they  wound  their  way  to  the  cabins  or  fields, 
and  the  children  now  filled  the  cliapel,  and,  after  mass,  were  cate- 
chized and  othersvise  instructed ;  for  a  school  for  the  boys  was  co- 
eval  with  the  mission.* 

Meanwhile  the  busy  labors  of  the  field  engaged  them  all.  The 
lands  of  the  poor  and  sick  were  tilled  by  their  wealtliier  neigh- 
bors, and  often  was  a  fervent  neopliyte  seen  to  resign,  in  a  peni- 


*  Mun.  flc  M.  dii  Chosncau,  Nov.  13,  1681.  Dc  la  Potheric,  iii.  remarks 
tliat  the  Indians  did  not  care  to  have  their  children  tauijht  to  read  and  writo, 
liunting  beincj  better,  as  it  enabled  them  to  live. 


S02 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


a 


tential  spirit,  liis  new-matle  clearings,  or  give  them  to  a  recent 
comer,  and  begin  liis  toil  anew,  for  there  tlie  fervor  of  faith  tri- 
umi)hetl  over  Indian  aversion  to  hibor. 

If  tliey  had  occasion  (kning  the  day  to  enter  the  village,  they 
always  took  the  chapel-path,  and  loosing  their  rosary  from  tin- 
neck,  offered  the  Virgin  ^fother  the  homage  of  their  })rayers,  ainl 
bowed  in  adoration  before  her  Sort  in  the  JSaerament. 

Devotion  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  characterized  these  converts ;  all 
wore  their  beads  visiblv,  j^enerallv  around  the  neck:  the  moiv 
fervent,  like  Alartin  Skandegorhaksen,  made  them  a  chaplet,  boiiiKJ 
around  their  brows.  This  young  man,  whose  piety  is  comnit'ino- 
rated  in  the  annals  of  the  mission,  was  a  nephew  of  the  great  Mu- 
hawk,  and  one  of  bis  earliest  followers.  After  a  life  of  gieat  piety 
and  purity  he  died  on  Christmas-day,  1075,  as  his  uncle  was  bear- 
ing him  from  the  distant  hunting-ground  to  the  mission.  Even 
in  their  visits  to  xMbany  to  sell  their  peltries  or  goods,  they  bore 
their  beads  conspicuously,  for  all  its  exciting  the  displeasure  of  the 
burghers  there.  One  woman,  taunted  with  adoring  a  creature, 
replied  :  "  What !  would  you  have  me  believe  that  the  Mother  of 
Jesus  deserves  no  honor  ?"  clearly  distinguishing  what  they  con- 
founded. 

When  the  declining  sun  called  the  Indians  of  the  mission  to 
repose,  they  all  assembled  once  more  in  the  chapel  for  prayer,  and 
then  returned  to  their  cabins. 

Such  were  their  daily  habits,  the  eve  of  Sunday  beheld  the  con- 
fessional crowded  with  penitents,  declaring  their  slightest  faults 
with  the  greatest  compunction.  Sunday,  sanctified  by  repose,  gavf 
more  time  to  God.  Besides  the  High  Mass  on  that  and  festal  days, 
fuller  instructions  were  given  to  young  and  old  ;  books  written  for 
their  profit  w^ere  read  and  explained,  and  at  a  later  date  the  as- 
sembly of  the  pious  confraternity  of  the  Holy  Family  filled  the  hours 
of  the  afternoon. 

The  festivals  of  the  Church,  with  their  processions  and  hallowed 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


303 


to  M  recent 
of  faith  tii- 

•illage,  thcy 
y  from  til'' 
[)rayers,  am! 

:ionverts ;  all 
: :  the  inoif 
laplet,  bound 
s  couinienio- 
he  g'reat  Mu- 
)f  great  piety 
cle  was  bcar- 
ission.     Even 
ids,  they  bore 
leasure  of  the 
rr  a  creature, 
he  Mother  of 
lat  they  cou- 

lie  mission  to 
)!•  prayer,  and 

Iheld  the  con- 
ightest  faults 
repose,  gave 
id  festal  days, 
ks  written  tor 
date  the  as- 
lUed  the  liouis 

and  hallowed 


rites,  had  replaced  tlie  Onnonliouaroia  and  otlier  idolatrous  festivi- 
ties ;  yet  two  national  festivals  were  retained,  Idessod  and  san<-tifiod 
bv  religion.  These  were  tlie  planting  festival,  when  the  seed  was 
blessed  for  sowing,  and  the  harvest  festival,  when  the  first-fruits 
were  brought  in  and  laid  upon  the  altar. 

During  tlie  hunting-season  each  party  had  its  chief  who  directed 
their  devotional  exercises,  and  superintended  all ;  so  that  not  even 
then  did  their  fervor  slacken.* 

The  success  of  this  mission  astonished  all,  and  the  Bishop  of 
Quebec,  Monseigneur  Laval,  resolved  to  visit  it  in  person,  and  ar- 
rived before  Laprairie  on  the  2oth  of  May,  1675.  No  sooner  was 
the  canoe  of  the  venerable  prelate  discerned  from  the  village  than 
Father  Dablon's  shot  out  to  meet  him ;  and  the  Ilurons  of  the 
village  descended  to  a  temporary  dock  to  harangue  him.  After 
the  address,  he  landed  and  advanced  through  rustic  boweis  to  the 
church,  escorted  on  the  right  by  Father  Fremin  and  the  Indians, 
on  the  left  by  Father  Cholenek  and  the  French,  who  alternately 
filled  the  air  with  sacred  chant-s.  Twice  the  procession  halted, 
and  at  each  station  a  new  address  was  delivered  to  the  prelate,  thus 
successively  greeted  by  a  Huron,  an  Oneida,  and  an  Onondagfi,  and 
last  of  all  by  the  dogique  Paul,  the  ablest  speaker  of  the  village. 
Entering  the  church,  he  gave  the  Benediction  of  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment, and  then  in  the  missionaries'  cabin  received  the  visits  of  his 
forest  children. 

The  next  day  he  solemnly  baptized  fourteen  adults  and  seven 
children,  and  for  the  first  time  administered  there  the  Sacrament  of 
Confirmation ;  a  hundred  Hurons  and  Iroquois  receiving  strength 
to  become  strong  and  perfect  Christians.f 

This  visit  extended  to  several  days,  excited  admiration  in  the 

*  Cliauchetiere,  Life  of  Catliixrino  Tcligahkwita,  MS. ;  St.  Valicr,  Etat 
present ;  De  la  Tour,  Vie  do  Mgr.  Laval. 

t  Manuscript  account  of  visit;  Rcl.  1673-9,  cb.  vii.  MS.;  Etat  present, 
l«7r,,  MS. 


304 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


it 


m 


U      ! 


]ii.slio|),  fervor  in  tlio  Indians,  and  gave  new  courage  to  their  lal»o- 
rioiis  j»astors. 

At  this  time  the  mission  numbered  about  two  hundred,  and 
aheady  finding  the  low  lands  of  Laprairie  unsuited  to  their  cultiva- 
tion, they  resolved  to  emigrate,  and,  in  10*76,  removed  to  the  little 
stream  called  Portage  Kiver,  where  cabins  were  soon  tlu'own  up. 
and  a  temporary  chapel  raised,  near  the  spot  now  marked  by  tin- 
cross  of  Catharine  Tehgahkwita.  Lying  within  sight  of  the  rapids 
of  the  St.  Lawrence,  which  Canadians  call  Sault  St.  Louis,  the  mis- 
sion now  changed  its  name  of  St.  Franpois  Xavier  des  presto  that 
of  St.  Francois  Xavier  du  Sauk.  The  Lidians  themselves calKil  it 
Caughnawaga  or  the  Rapids ;  and  the  English,  who  soon  leaiiiod 
to  dread  them,  adopted  the  name  for  the  mission  and  the  tribe.* 
Here  a  substantial  stone  church,  sixty  feet  long,  was  begun,  aud, 
when  completed  in  the  spring  of  16*78,  was  one  of  the  finest  in  that 
part  of  Canada.f 

Before  its  completion,  and  while  Fremin  was  absent  in  Europe, 
Catharine  Tehgahkwita  arrived,  and,  forming  a  close  friendshij) 
with  a  few  pious  women,  aspired  to  the  highest  sanctity.  Her 
hours  were  spent  in  labor  or  in  prayer,  and  in  both  she  seemed 
never  to  lose  sight  of  God.  Deaf  to  all  offers  of  marriage,  she  lived 
by  the  work  of  her  hands,  a  hazardous  experiment  for  an  Indian, 
but  from  her  skill  and  industry  successful  in  her  case.  M'hat 
leisure  her  labor  permitted  she  spent  in  the  chapel,  edifying  all  bv 
her  modesty,  recoUectedness,  and  voluntaiy  poverty. 

Her  first  desire,  formed  as  she  sat  beneath  the  village  cross  with 
Theresa  Teguaiagenta,  gazing  upon  the  rapid  river  which  hurried 
by  them,  was  to  lead,  with  some  others,  a  life  like  that  of  the  nuns 
at  Quebec ;  but  this  being  impracticable,  she  resolved  to  avoid  all 

*  The  Utat  present  of  1675  heads  n  chapter,  "  De  la  mission  de  St.  Frai^ois 
Xiivier  a  Laprairie  do  hi  Magdelcine  ;  tlio  Kelation  of  1676,  St.  Francois  Xavier 
du  Saut." 

t  St.  Valier,  EUt  de  TEglise;  Cholenek,  Lottre. 


0  their  labo- 

lunclrcd,  iiml 
their  cuhiv;i- 

1  to  the  littl.' 
n  thrown  \i\u 
arked  bv  tlk- 
,  of  the  rai»ids 
louis,  the  Hiis- 
;s  pres  to  that 
elves  called  u 
►  soon  learned 
nd  the  tribe.* 
IS  begun,  and, 
e  finest  in  that 

ent  in  Europe, 
ose  friendshijt 
anctity.    Hoi' 

1  she  seeiut'd 
"iafe,  she  lived 
br  an  Indian, 

case.  ^Vhat 
edifying  all  by 

• 

age  cross  with 
which  hurried 
lat  of  the  nuns 
id  to  avoid  all 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


305 


n 


de  St.  Franqoi^ 
Francois  Xuvier 


the  vanity  of  her  countrvwomen,  and  observe  tlie  utmost  modesty 
in  dress  and  life.  For  poor  as  the  Indians  were,  they  had  their 
btdles,  whose  toilet  was  as  anxiously  cared  for  as  in  any  [lolislied 
country.  A  manuscript  of  the  time  describes  the  Indian  maiden, 
with  lier  well-oiled  and  neatly-parted  liair,  descending  in  a  long 
plait  behind,  while  a  fine  chemise  was  met  at  the  waist  by  a  neat 
and  well-tiimmed  petticoat  reaching  to  the  knee;  below  this  was 
the  rich  leggin,  and  then  the  well-fitted  moccasin,  the  gloiy  of  an 
hoijuois  belle.  The  neck  was  loaded  with  beads,  wdiile  the  crimson 
blanket  enveloped  the  whole  form.* 

All  the  finery  of  dress  Catharine  renounced ;  tlie  ordinary  blue 
blanket,  now  universally  worn  by  the  women,  served  her  use ;  her 
other  garments  were  plain.  In  summer  and  winter  alike  her  face 
was  nmftled,  so  that  no  brave  of  the  village  had  ever  looked  her  in 
the  face  but  one,  w  ho  rudely  put  aside  lier  blanket  to  see  her  blush 
with  shame.  But  it  was  not  enough  to  renounce  pleasure.  A 
virgin,  she  kept  the  vow  of  chastity,  and  resolved  to  assume  the 
painful  austerities  of  a  penitential  life  to  liken  herself  to  her  Re- 
deemer. "  Who  will  teach  me,"  she  would  exclaim,  "  what  is  most 
agreeable  to  God,  that  I  may.  do  it  ?"  Two  days  in  every  week 
she  tasted,  while  scourging  and  cliains  were  in  constant  use,  the 
former  even  to  the  effusion  of  blood.  These  austerities  were  indeed 
moderated  by  her  directors ;  but  as  they  were  evidently  prompted 
by  the  spirit  of  God,  those  wdiich  the  missionaries  were  forced  to 
concede  to  her  fervor,  rank  her  among  the  most  austere. 

x\fter  one  winter  spent  in  the  Avoods,  her  desire  of  attending  all 
the  offices  of  the  Church  made  her  renounce  the  advantages  of  the 


*  Mr.  Faiilon,  Vie  de  la  Soeur  Boiirgeoys,  i.  291,  fulls  into  the  strange  error 
of  snpposinfr  that  the  women  were  perfectly  naked,  with  no  covering  but  the 
hliinket.  All  writers,  from  the  time  of  Cliamplain,  represent  the  Huron- 
Iroquois  women  as  wearing  a  petticoat  of  beaver-skin,  and  later  of  cloth,  with 
lonrgins  and  moccasins,  besides  the  blanket.  Sagard  gives  their  ideas  of 
iiiodesty  with  curious  detail. 


306 


AMKlilCAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


•A 


^  >       ! 

J 


- 


hunting  season,  and  remain  in  the  village,  where  she  supported 
hei"self  by  sewing  and  the  manufacture  of  various  articles  of  wood 
and  bark,  whicii  she  made  with  great  ingenuity. 

The  servants  of  God  are  ever  tried  by  persecution.  Pure  us 
was  the  life  of  Catharine  Tehgahkwita,  she  did  not  escape  the 
breath  of  calumny,  under  which  she  long  suffered  in  silence,  un- 
able to  dispel  the  suspicions  against  her.  Iler  self-imposed  pains 
did  not  equal  this  sorest  trial  of  her  life.  Her  pilgrimage  w;is, 
however,  drawing  to  a  close.  Towards  the  end  of  1079  lnr 
health  failed ;  a  lonfj  march  on  the  ice  led  to  a  maladv  which 
proved  fatal.  During  the  winter  she  was  often  unable  even  lo 
di'ag  herself  to  the  chapel.  As  spring  came  on,  the  out-door  oc- 
cupations of  the  rest  left  her  sole  occupant  of  the  cabin,  where  tht: 
missionary,  to  console  her,  would  frequently  assemble  the  children 
to  instruct  them  in  their  reliijion  and  such  branches  as  the  nioiu 
settled  state  of  the  village  now  enabled  him  to  undertake. 

As  Holy  Week  came  on,  she  sank  rapidly,  and  it  was  fouiul 
impossible  to  convey  her  on  a  bark  litter  to  the  chapel,  accordino- 
to  custom,  for  the  last  sacraments.  For  the  first  time  the  Viati- 
cum and  Extreme  Unction  were  administered  in  a  cabin.  The 
novel  sight  and  the  general  esteem  for  Catharine  drew  all  around 
the  priest,  as,  accompanied  by  the  acolytes,  he  bore  the  sacred 
host  to  her  dying  couch.  She  received  the  body  of  her  Lord 
with  the  most  tender  devotion,  but  intimated  to  the  missionary 
that  he  need  not  then  anoint  her,  as  her  death  would  not  lake 
place  till  a  moment  Avhich  she  named. 

Till  that  moment  her  lowly  couch  was  surrounded  by  the  old 
and  young,  learning  in  her  death  the  deep  lesson  of  life.  Life 
ebbed  slowly  away,  and  on  "Wednesday  afternoon,  about  three 
oVlo(]k,  she  uttered  her  last  words,  the  names  of  Jesus  and  Maiy; 
*h(iu  a  slight  shudder  ran  through  her  frame,  and  she  fell  into  hor 
agony.  Conscious  to  the  last,  about  half  an  hour  after  she 
breathed  her  last  so  calmly,  so  ))eaccfully,  that  she  seemed  to  slcej). 


FliENCH   MISSIONS. 


807 


supported 

les  of  wood 

.     Pure  us 
escape  tile 
silence,  un- 
posed  piiiii-^ 
rimage  ami-, 
f  1679   \m- 
aladv  which 
ible  even  lo 
out-dooi-  oc- 
n,  where  llie 
the  childveu 
as  the  nioic 
take. 

it  was  found 
el,  according 
me  the  Vi:ili- 
cabiu.  The 
>v  all  around 
the  sacred 
of  her  Lord 
le  missionary 
luld  not  take 

Id  by  the  oLl 
lof  life.     Life 
about  three 
IS  and  Mary ; 
fell  into  her 
lur  after  she 
ined  to  sh-ej). 


She  was  buried  beside  tiie  church,  and  her  j^rave  became  im- 
mediately tlie  resort  of  those  wiio  wished  to  interest  in  their  bidialf 
a  faidiful  servant  of  (j^od.  It  ])ecame  a  })il<^riinag(^  where  the  pre- 
late and  the  viceroy  came  alike  to  kneel  and  pay  homage  \o  v\- 
alted  virtue,  as  thcv  invoked  on  themselves  and  their  charije  tlui 
l)lessing  of  Heaven.  This  devotion  was  not  unrewarded :  miratni- 
lous  cures  attested  that  it  was  pleasing  to  Heaven,  while  they  en- 
kindled anew  the  devotion  to  this  holiest  of  the  children  of  the 
American  forests.* 

The  mission  especially  was  renewed  by  so  holy  a  death.  Her 
oxamjde  and  her  life  served,  in  a  series  of  paintings,  to  rouse  the 
lukewarm  and  confirm  the  fervent  in  their  struggles  airainst  the 
world  and  self.f 

A  few  yeai-s  after  this  memorable  epoch  in  the  annals  of  the 
mission,  the  vallev  of  the  St.  Lawrence  was  visited  by  one  of  tlu^ 
most  ten'ific  hurricanes  ever  known  in  the  countiy.  The  new 
stone  church  of  the  mission  was  levelled  by  it  to  the  ground. 
This  was  in  August,  1G83,  three  years  after  the  death  of  Cath- 
arine, to  Avhose  prayers  was  attributed  the  preservation  of  the 
three  missionaries  who  were  in  the  chapel  at  the  time.  The 
rains  came  crashing  around  them,  the  bell  even  fell  at  the  feet  of 
one,  yet  two  escaped  with  slight  bruises,  and  the  other  entirely 
unhurt.t 

A  fervent  chief  immediately  oti'ei'cd  a  new  cabin  for  a  place  of 
worship,  and  as  they  soon  went  still  further  up  the  river,  and 
settled  for  a  time  in  the  woods,  the  former  chapel  was  never  re- 

*  Soo  attestations  of  two  cures  in  Father  C'holcnek's  Letter,  in  the  Lettrcs 
E'Jifiantcs  (Kip's  Jesuit  Missions,  p.  115);  also  a  manuscript  by  M.  liemv, 
Cun''  of  Laehine,  at  first  warmly  opposed  to  the  devotion  entertained  tor 
Cailiarine,  afterwards  an  earnest  propagator  of  it. 

t  Ilcr  life  was  first  written  and  her  portrait  drawn  by  Father  Chauchc- 
tiere,  a  missionary  there  at  the  time.  These  were  evidently  used  t)y  Fatiier 
Choienok  in  i)rcparingr  his  letter  and  portrait  for  the  Lettres  Ediliantc;-;. 
Chauchetiore's  manuseript  is  still  extant,  and  we  pivc  the  portrait. 

i  St.  Valior,  Etat,  &c. 


808 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


buil',  and  at  this  day  not  the  slightest  trace  of  it  or  of  the  vili.'tge 
is  to  1)0  seen.  The  cross  of  Catharine  alone  serves  to  I'eniiiul  us 
that  it  was  the  abode  of  tlie  Catholic  })ilgrinis  from  New  Yoi'k. 

The  loss  of  the  church  and  the  subsequent  migrations  entailt-il 
another  misfortune.  Eager  to  rear  up  maidens  to  imitate  tlic 
piety,  zeal,  and  fervor  of  Catharine,  the  sistei'hood  of  Margaret 
Bourgeoys  liad,  soon  after  the  death  of  the  holy  maiden  of  tlit; 
Mohawk,  begun  a  school  for  girls  beside  the  Portage  Kiver;  but 
when  the  village  moved  to  the  woods,  and,  unsettled  in  location, 
became  so  in  manners,  the  sisters,  unable  to  labor  with  anv  sue- 
cess,  withdrew  for  a  time,*  and  subsequent  events  long  retardcil 
their  return. 

The  memory  of  Catharine  Avas,  however,  in  itself,  a  const;iiit 
lesson  and  model  to  the  voung.  The  devotion  to  her,  checkLil 
by  some  as  imprudent,  fi'om  the  fact  that  the  Holy  See  Inftl  iii)t 
spoken  in  the  matter,  contributed  in  no  slight  degree  to  the  main- 
tenance of  religion  and  fervor,  not  only  among  the  Catholic  hu- 
quois,  but  also  among  the  French  settlers  of  Canada.  The  devo- 
tion subsists  to  our  day,  and  at  this  moment  we  learn  that  a 
movement  has  been  set  on  foot  in  order  to  solicit  the  necessary 
permission  to  introduce  the  cause  of  her  beatification,  and  that  of 
the  celebrated  martyrs  of  Canada. 


III. — The   Mission    of   Quinte   ]5ay    and   the   Mountain   of 

MONTUEAL. 

The  Sulpitians,  who  were  founded  by  Mr.  Olier,  the  projector  of 
the  Society  of  Montreal,  acquired  finally  the  seignory  of  the  island, 
and,  individually  and  as  a  body,  were  deeply  interested  in  the  hi- 
dian  missions.  One  of  their  number  had  given  means  to  found 
tlie  mission  at  Quinte  Bay,  among  the  half-tribe  of  Cayugas, 


*  Faillon ;  Vie  dc  M.  Tiourgeoys,  i.  286. 


loUNTAIN     OF 


Hi. 

•  FAC-SIMILES 

OF  THE  AUTOGRAPHS  OF  CELEBRATED  MISSIONARIES 

AND  OTHEBS  CONNBOTKD  WITH  THB 


Sttl];ilisn  Iti5si0ns. 


^/r^aut^  /  g^ 


11  fr  p  I' 


mdrCt  ttrtJc 


1  Abb6  F6n61oD.— 2  C.  Trouv^.— 3  F.  de  Belmont —4  AbW  Galinler.— 6  W.  Vlgnal.— 6  Sistei 
Mai^aret  Bourgeoys,  foundress  of  the  Congregation  Sisters,— 7  Sister  Mary  T,  Qannensagwaa, 
an  Indian.— 8  Abb6  Piquet 


t    '■ 


■,  J 


.1 


:-,r. 


11 


IS 


14 


Iff 


FAC-SIMILES 

OF  THE  AUTOGRAPHS  OF  CELEBRATED  MISSIONARIES. 

•  •  * 


fKe^ncUvu,  ^Cru^^  Jocl^A^, 


JO^i^ 


/^U^-f^A..^^ 


^^-"v-^yL/yury^-^-A.^ 


S'^^r^A  "^yi^^^es   Soc-J-y- 


:t 


0     Ja.efM  IIWyjM^  /2r,^ 


12 


(XC'QifaAH^^ 


^^/«, 


^Anruu  ^Jmr^Jao  Je^ 


K 


/  au/iA.^a^ 


J^  Ctrr  t-  Sj^o  A>/»    yc  Sa.C  tt 


1  0.  Kaymbaut— 2  R.  Mwnard.— 3  C.  Allouez.— 4  C.  Dablon.— 5.  O.  DrallleteA-6  ^ 
Marquette.— 7  0.  Albanel.— 8  Bailloquet— 9  A.  Sllvy.— 10  P.  Plerson.— 11  J.  J.  Marest-H 
J.  Gravler.— 13  J.  Enjalran.— 14  P.  du  Jaunay.— 16  P.  Potier. 


KHEXCll    Mlr^SluXS. 


801) 


whore  Messrs.  Fcnelon  and  Trouvo  beu^an,  in  10G8,  the  first  Sul- 
pitian  mission  among  tlie  Iroquois.*  Messrs.  d'Uife,  de  Cico,  and 
utiieis  sueceeded  them,  and  tor  ten  years  struijufled  in  vain,  and 
ihev  concluded  that  only  by  a  "reduction"  could  real  g'ood  be 
done.  The  success  of  the  Laprairie  mission  confirmed  this.  Ac- 
cordingly, when  some  lro(piois  and  others,  in  1G70,  asked  leave  to 
settle  on  the  Island  of  Montreal,  their  offer  was  accepted,  and  a 
place  assigned  them  where  the  country-house  of  the  Sulpitians 
now  stands.  Some  of  the  Indians  of  Caughnaw  aga,  probably  dis- 
liking their  new  station,  also  came  over,  and  the  mission  of  the 
Mountain  was  beguu.f  Colbert,  the  sagacious  minister,  approved 
the  plan  and  the  idea  of  opening  schools  for  the  instruction  of 
boys  and  girls.  Accordingly,  the  Sul})itians  closed  their  Quinte 
mission,  and,  resigning  it  to  the  liecoUects,  turned  all  their  atten- 
tion to  the  new  reduction.|     A  village  of  bark  cabins  was  soon 


*  De  la  Poth.  iii.  210  ;  Kel.  IGOT-S,  ch.  v. ;  Faillon,  Vic  dc  M.  Bourgeoys, 
i.  274;  Le  Clercq,  Etabl.  de  la  Foi. 

Tlie  Abbe  Fenelon  here  mentioned  lias  been  confounded  by  sonic  late 
writers  with  the  Archbishop  of  Cambray;  but  the  great  Feuelon  was  ti>f> 
younn:  to  be  a  priest  at  the  liine  when  the  other  was  in  Canada. 

t  Sec  Faillon,  Vie  de  la  Sauir  Bourgeoys,  i.  275,  note,  where  he  refutes  tin- 
errors  of  Montgolfier  and  Noiseux,  who  carry  the  mission  back  to  a  ver^ 
eiirly  date.  See  Belmont,  Ilistoirc  du  Canada  (Quebec  Hist.  Coll.  p.  l;}i. 
who  gives  1677  as  its  foundation. 

X  Of  this  Quinte  mission,  we  have  given  the  brief  notices  which  our  au- 
thorities enable  us.  Of  its  subsequent  history  we  know  little.  The  fir>t 
Recollect  missionaries  scut  were  the  famous  Father  Louis  Hennepin  and 
Father  Luke  Buisset.  The  former  visited  the  cantons  in  New  York,  copied 
Bruyas'  dictionary,  and  returned  to  Fort  Frontenac.  Ilis  missionary  caret-r 
was,  however,  short.  lie  soon  after  set  out  with  La  Salle  on  his  voyage  of 
discovery.  Father  Luke,  a  man  of  piety  and  erudition,  twice  wintered  with 
the  Indiarts,  and  labored  zealously  for  their  conversion,  as  Lc  Clercq  assures 
u«  (vol.  ii.  p.  114;  Hennepin,  New  Discov.  p.  19-277).  He  was  suocoedcd, 
apparently  about  lOSl,  by  Fatlicr  Francis  ^Vas^on,  of  wlioiu  Lc  <'loic| 
^pt-aks  in  terms  of  eulogy,  and  who  remained  as  cliaplain  of  tht-  fort  an  1 
missionary  of  the  Iroquois  for  six  years  (Le  Clercq,  Kolation  do  Gasp.'sie, 
50,") ).  His  labors  in  the  latter  capacity  could  not,  however,  have  been  great, 
t"i"  when  Dcnonville  required  an  interpreter  at  the  place,  he  was  compelled 
to  substitute  Father  Milet  as  chaplain,  a  step  wliic    would  have  been  un- 


310 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


1 

t 

!     1 

i   ' 

' 

■i 

i 

1 

raisod,  raiiovd  in  le^ailar  onlor,  ami  a  cliapel  built  at  the  oxpotiM'  of 
the  t'crvont  Francis  do  In-lnmnt,  then  a  deacon.  One  linndn-d  Mini 
sixty  Indians,  half  of  whom  wore  (,'iuistiaiis,  had  now  asscni',»lr(l 
tiieic.  The  bovs'  school  was  bcmni  in  lOTO,  and  in  the  foUowin:;' 
year  was  directed  by  Mr.  de  Delniont ;  whiii!  Mar<^ar('t  Jiouii^eoys. 
foundress  of  the  (Jontjregation  Sisters,  sent  two  of  her  coninnniit\ 
to  begin  a  school  for  girls.  lender  such  auspices,  the  mission 
could  not  but  prosper.  The  want  of  European  females  to  train  uji 
the  girls  had  been  felt  at  Sillery  and  Lorette.  The  disciples  cf 
Margaret  liourgeoys,  in  all  the  fervor  of  the  beginning  of  tlnir 
institute,  infused  a  new  sj»irit  into  the  lro(|Uois  women.  Tli<' 
sisters,  besides  their  day-school,  brought  up,  by  the  help  of  a  pen- 
sion from  the  king,  in  their  own  cabin,  a  few  of  the  most  promis- 
ing girls,  who  were,  in  the  sequel,  of  the  greatest  assistance  to  them. 

The  boys',  of  whom  Mr.  de  Belmont  had  twentv-three  from  tlio 
very  first,  learned  to  read,  write,  and  chant,  as  well  as  various 
trades;  the  girls  to  read,  write,  sew,  knit ;  and  the  governnniit, 
which  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  mission,  sent  out  women  to  teadi 
them  to  spin,  knit,  and  embroider.  The  girls  also  adopted  the  Euro- 
pean dress  completely,  but  this  was  apparently  only  for  a  short  tiiiic 

Amonff  the  eai-liest  fruits  of  the  care  of  Sister  Bourwoys  was  ;iii 
Onondaga  girl,  i».ttontinon,  who  took  in  baptism  the  name  of  Mai y 
EWirbara.  She  was  one  of  the  earliest  convers  of  the  mission ;  ami 
after  displaying  great  fervor,  was,  after  repeated  requests,  received 
into  the  community  in  10 79,  making  the  promises,  by  which 
alone  the  sisters  were  then  bound.  So  nvent  a  chanire  had  beiii 
made  in  her  Indian  character,  that  she  lived  for  twelve  years  as  a 
sistei',  eminent  for  her  regular  observance  of  the  rules  and  all  ilio 
little  virtues  of  a  community-life.* 


^ 


I 


necossury  had  Father  Wasson  spoken  tlie  Cayuga  dialect.     It  may,  tlicif- 
fore,  be  concluded  that  the  mission  was  virtually  abandoned  in  1687. 

*  She  died  29th  November,  1691,  and  was  buried  in  the  vaults  of  the  paiisli 
cliurch. 


t'KKN'ClI   MISSIONS. 


311 


When  the  mission  was  cstahiisliod,  several  came  from  tlilK'rent 
cantons  in  Xi-w  Vurk.  The  a^'cd  Francis  Tciioronliioni^o  an*!  \i\^ 
wife  left  the  Soneca  tt)wns,  in  1(577,  witii  a  son  and  grandchild,  to 
>lK'iid  ids  remaining*  d.-ys  at  the  Mountain,  having;  become  free  liy 
the  death  of  the  heads  of  tli(!  cabin  in  wliicii  he  iiad  so  loiio-  Ix-cm 
;i  slave.*  At  tini  ^^HMltain  lie  was  received  Nvitli  Jdv;  jdreadv 
known  by  tlie  auuiial  relations  of  tin;  Jesuits  for  his  fervent  jiiety, 
lie  justitied  his  reputation  by  his  conduct  at  the  mission,  by  his 
labors  for  the  poor  and  afflicted,  and,  wlien  lie  finally  became  blind, 
bv  his  unremittin!jf  luaver  and  union  with  (Jod. 

Ills  jxranddaughter,  (!annensa<j;was  {^she  tahn  the  arm),  was 
jilaecd  with  the  sisters,  and,  after  beinjj^  baptized  by  the  name  of 
Mary  Theresa,  soon  siu'passed  all  her  com}>anions,  especially  by  her 
uiodestv.  After  si>eudinu'  several  vears  in  that  school  of  virtue,  she 
asked  to  become  a  sister,  and  having  shown  a  decided  disinclina- 
tion for  marriage,  was  received,  and  made  school-mistress — a  post 
which  she  filled  to  the  age  of  twenty-seven.  She  was  ever  emi- 
nent for  modesty,  silence,  and  a  spirit  of  mortification,  which  her 
prudent  directors  had  constantly  to  control.f 

Such  was  the  state  of  this  mission  at  the  time  of  the  border 
troubles.  It  was  poor,  but  fervent ;  the  zealous  missionaries  and 
self-devoting  sisters  lived,  like  their  flock,  in  wretched  cabins,  sub- 
joct«?d  to  many  hardships,  for  even  the  royal  aid  had  not  enabled 
them  to  obtain  what  could  be  called  comfort. 


*  Faillon,  Vic  de  la  Sceur  Bourgeoys,  gives  some  details  as  to  a  son  and 
prandson  of  Francis,  in  which  he  taxes  F.  Fromin,  Eel.  16Glt-70,  of  had 
incmorv  and  error.  Yet  his  own  account  makes  a  hoy  of  ccrtaiidy  less  than 
twelve  take  his  father  prisoner  in  hattlc,  i.  2i.>7.  Francis  lost  his  wife  in  ICTS 
(Vijrer,  Petit  Registre,  in  4°,  p.  30) ;  but  Mr.  Faillon  seems  not  to  have  known 
tlie  tiict. 

t  Faillon,  Vic  de  la  Sceur  Bourgeoys,  ubi  supra. 


CHAPTER    XVTT. 

THE    TllOOrOIS    MISSION — (fON'TINrKD.) 


m 


l^' 


DoniTftn  Mill  his  projoct— Knt'llsli  Jesuits — I'.mloiivor  to  recall  tlio  Ciiujrhnnwagas  -Tin' 
inisslonaiies  ten^'nilty  retire — The  tl<i  Laiiibcrvllles—Tlio  eider  left  nlono  In  Now 
York— Trencliery  of  DeiionvlUe— Danger  of  tlio  niissioimry — Mafrnanlinlty  nf  \\w 
Oiiondn^ras— I)e  Laiiiberville  retires— Close  of  tiio  iiii>si()ii — IJetrosiieet — DfiioiivJlloS 
ram|)ftif,'n— The  ("athollc  Iroquois  In  the  flelil — Death  of  riarotililapiiu— Moveineiitj 
of  the  missionaries— t'aptiire  of  Fatlier  Mllef— Laehlnc  and  Scheneetudy— Tclionin- 
hlonjro — Deatli  of  Kryn,  llio  great  Moiiawk. — Attack  on  the  Moiin.ain — TTie  diciinc 
of  i)lcty  In  the  Indians  while  at  Montreal— Stephen  to  (Janonakoo  and  his  lierulc 
death — Oiirelionare — Paul— Francos  CJonanhatenha,  her  tortiir<',  ddellty,  and  de.itli  — 
Milet  and  his eai)tivity— Conversion  of  his  owner — Her  haplisni  — Ucsioration  of  M  Kt 
— Death  of  Oureouliare— Contla^ration  of  the  mission  at  the  Mountain— Zoid  ani 
generosity  of  de  Helinont— Mary  Theresa  Oaniiensagwas— Mission  at  tlio  Suult  an 
IJei'ollet  hegun— That  at  the  Mountaiiiclosed  — Saidt  St.  Louis— JCn;;lish  mission  tntli.' 
Moliawks— nellamont  — His  falsehoods  and  higotry— French  missionaries  iw\u\  in 
New  York  in  sjdte  of  penal  laws— Mruyas  at  Onondaga— The  last  mission  and  its  cln-.. 
— Treatment  of  Father  Mavi'nil — Tegannissoren — Captives  at  Onondaga— The  Xuiiii 
family— Mission  of  the  Sault  au  Kecollet  transferred  to  the  Lake  of  the  Two  Moiiii- 
tAins. 

THE    STRLGGI.K    OF    ENGLAND    AND    FRANCE    FOR    THE    IROQUOIS. 

The  English  colony  of  New  York  had  now  passed  under  tlie 
sway  of  Colonel  Dongan,  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  active 
governors  that  ever  controlled  the  destinies  of  any  of  the  Entiiish 
provinces.  Ilis  short  but  vigorous  administration  showed  that  he 
was  not  only  thoroughly  ac(]uainted  with  the  interests  of  England, 
but  able  to  carry  them  out.  A  Catholic,  who  had  served  in  tlu' 
French  armies,  he  was  biased  neither  bv  his  relicrion  nor  his  foriiKi' 
services  in  the  duties  of  the  station  now  devolved  upon  him. 

Claiming  for  England  all  the  country  south  of  the  groat  Libs, 
he  it  was  Avho  made  thoin  a  boundary.  His  first  step  was  to  extfinl 
the  power  of  New  York  over  the  five  Iroquois  cantons,  and  Mii'l 
those  war-like  tribes  to  the  English  interest.  Ilis  next,  to  recall  the 
Caughnawagas  to  their  ancient  home  by  promises  of  a  new  location 


I'UKNCll    MISSIONS. 


UlS 


■t't  nloiic  In  Xc" 
A^tnuiilinlty  'if  the 
H'ot— lK'in)nville"> 
n!:iu'— Movi'iiiotit' 

lectudy— Ti'Iktoi- 
[i:ain— TlioiWclinc 
.((!\  iitiil  liis  lurnli- 
U'llty,  1111(1  ik'.itli- 
Icslorutiim  ni'  M.lit 
()untiiin--/A\tl  iiii'l 
)n  nt  tlio  Saiilt  ait 
;;lish  mission  tutln' 
<si(>ii!ii'ics  n;:;iin  in 
uis>i()n  ami  Us  il""' 
;)iula};a— The  'Sum 
of  the  Two  Miiiiii- 


[IE    IROQUOIS. 

Isccl  iindc'V  the 
iing  and  active 
lot'  the  Enu-lisli 
Ibowed  that  lie 
its  of  England, 
served  in  the 
nor  his  torniw 
lion  him. 
le  groat  lakes 
^vas  to  oNtcad 
|tous,  and  hiii'l 
t,  to  recall  the 
la  new  location 


(Ml  tin*  jdainHof  Saratoga,  when' a  rhunli  siiouM  !>«>  built  forthrtii, 
!(ti<i  an  l'jigli>l»  .li'suit  stationod  as  their  Mns>it»nary.  In  tliis  ])lan  Ik; 
t«iiiii(|  his  (.'tlorls  thwarit'd  hv  the  nii>sionari<'s,  wh»>,  I'Vi-nch  hv  hirth 
and  attachment,  looked  uitli  .su>'j»iei(»n  on  the  growing  i'Jiglish  in- 
tliii'iice  in  the  (;ant(jns  as  fatal  to  the  missions  which  had  <'ost  so 
imicli  toil,  and  who  ndied  little  on  l)ongan's  tair  words,  and  suhse- 
ijui'iit  promise  to  replace  them  i>y  English  niemhorsot'  their  so<'iety. 

Several  circumstances  tendeil  to  tavor  liis  ])lans;  tin-  murder  ot" 
a  Seneca  cliiet'at  Maid<inaw,  an  attack  by  the  Inxjiiois  on  a  French 
jiest  in  Illinois,  the  seizure  of  a  tlotilla,  all  jMvpared  tor  a  renewal 
(if  the  war  between  the  cantons  and  Can.ada.  Amid  these  troubles 
the  cantons  became  no  longer  safe  for  the  I'Vench  missionaries; 
Seneca  breathed  only  war,  and  Ei<'min  and  Pierron  retired,  fol- 
lowed in  1083  by  Father  (iarnier,  who  thus  let't  the  Seiiecas  un- 
attended. Among  the  Cayugas,  de  Carheil  was  jdundered  and 
maltreated  by  Ilorchouasse, and,  in  1084,  driven  from  the  canton 
by  (Jreouato  and  Sarennoa,  the  two  head  chiefs  of  tin;  tribe.* 
Meanwhile  de  la  Barre,  bent  on  punishing  the  Senecas,  collected 
a  considerable  force  in  Canada,  and  for  the  first  time  called  the 
mission  Iroquois  into  service.  The  braves  of  the  Mountain  and 
llapid  obeyed  the  call,  although  the  gallant  Garonhiaguo  was  so 
evidently  averse  to  action,  that,  by  his  lukewarmness,  he  fell  under 
PU>picion.  As  de  la  liarrc  advanced,  F'atlK^'  Milet  met  liim  at 
Hungry  Bay,  leaving  liis  Oneida  mission,  which  had  so  long  defied 
his  labors.  Here,  too,  the  F'rench  governor  was  met  by  deputies 
of  Oneida,  Cayuga,  and  Onondaga,  who  pro}»osed  terms  of  media- 
tion, which  Father  de  Lambervillef  urged  the  governor  to  accept. 
This  opinion  was  shared  by  (Jaracontie  II.  and  Oureouate,  who 
headed  the  embassy.  With  his  army  wasted  by  sickness,  de  la 
Uarre  lost  courage,  patched  up  a  peacte,  and  retired. 

At  this  moment  no  French  missionaries  remained  but  the  two 


*  De  Belm(^nt;  Paris  Doc. 


t  Doc.  Hist.  i.  127;  Col.  Doe.  iii.  453. 
14 


f 


\    ! 


#-* 


814 


.\MKU1CAN    CATHOLIC    MISSIONS, 


de  Lambervilles  at  Onondaga;  and  l)ono;an  liad  now  receiveo 

he  liad  eainostly  sought,  three  EngHsh  Jesuits  to  continue  the 

fonnor  missions.* 

Fatlier  John  de  Lainberville,  the  Teiorhenscre  of  tlie  Indians,  was 
now  to  be  removed  ;  l)nt,  conscious  of  his  duty  to  those  whom  he 
had  so  long  instructed,  and  whom  liis  predecessors  liad  conveitc.l. 
beloie  Dutch  or  EngHsh  had  visited  tlie  lakes  of  New  York,  tli'.- 
elder  Lamberville  resolved  not  to  forsake  his  flock.  Seeing  Doii- 
gan's  constant  eftbrts  to  induce  them  to  drive  off  and  plunder  tlic 
French  traders,  and  the  evil  dispositions  of  the  Seuecas,  who  hail 
determined  not  to  fuHil  the  terms  made  in  their  name  bv  the  other 
cantons  at  Hungry  Bay,  leather  John  de  Lamberville  resolvi^l  lu 
visit  the  new  CJovernor  Denonville,  and  set  out  for  that  pnr]i(iN\ 
leaving  his  brother  James  sole  missionary  in  the  cantons,  lie  wan 
indeed  but  a  hostage,  and  iJongan  now  asked  the  canton  of  Onmi- 
daga  to  surrender  him  into  his  hands,  while  at  the  same  time,  hr 
invited  the  missionary  to  come  to  Albany  as  a  place  of  safety ;  hut 
the  canton  and  the  missionary  alike  decHned,  and  de  Lambeivillo 
remained  at  Onondaga.  Baliled  in  this,  Dongan,  at  the  same  time, 
witnessed  the  failure  of  his  eftbrts  to  seduce  the  Indians  of  CauLih- 
nawaga.  His  professed  respect  for  the  missionaries  now  vauishod, 
and  he  no  longer  concealed  his  hostility  to  them.f 

Yet  not  Dongan,  but  Denonville,  was  to  give  the  last  blow  to  the 
Iroquois  mission,  and  it  soon  after  closed,  as  it  had  begun,  in  the 
captivity  of  a  missionary.  Although  Dongan  had  failed  to  iii(hi(V 
the  Onondagas  to  surrender  Father  James,  he  i»ersuaded  them  thai 
his  brother  would  aj>pear  only  as  a  guide  to  a  French  army.  ^^  ai- 
parties  were  actually  in  the  field  when  do  Lamberville  arrival 
alone,  with  presents  from  the  governor,  and  Avas  soon  able,  by  his 
frank  address  and  insinuating  manners,  to  change  the  opinion  so 
unfavorably  formed.     Having  thus  quieted  the  storm,  he  hnsteneil 


*  New  York  Doo.  Hist.  i.  '230.  iii.  no. 


f  Col.  Doo.  iii.  453,  ^c 


f! 


FREXOII   MISSIONS. 


oi 


D 


back  to  C^iieboc  to  announce  the  ij^ood  disposition  of  Onondai^^a,  and 
the  liostility  of  tlie  Seneeas.  Tlien,  liis  j^olitical  career  ended,  lie 
?ct  cut  in  September  for  liis  mission,  wlience  his  brother  was  now 
to  (lt'])art.  Yet,  thoni^'h  tt)  be  dej>rivf(l  of  that  consolation,  witli 
life  in  constant  danger  from  the  drunken  braves  nho  staifi^ert'd  to 
his  door,  an  object  of  jealousy  and  suspicion  to  the  authorities  of 
New  York,  fearless,  uul)roken,  and  undismay<'d,  the  ixallant  John 
de  Lamberville,  the  last  of  the  missionaries,  alone  in  tlie  heart  of 
New  Y'ork,  with  enemies  on  every  side,  clung  to  liis  desperate 
mission. 

"Will  it  be  credited  that  a  Catholic  governor  could  sport  with  the 
life  of  such  a  devoted  man  i  Yet  so  it  was.  Father  John  d(; 
Laniberville  little  knew,  as  he  bent  his  way  to  (Jnondaga,  that  he 
was  the  dupe  of  an  act  of  treachery  as  savage  as  any  by  which  the 
faithless  lr(K|Uois  had  sullied  their  name.'*  In  his  instructions  to  de 
la  r»arre,  the  French  king  had  ordered  some  Jroquois  captives  to  be 
sent  to  the  galleys  in  France.  Unabl(»  to  take  them  in  war,  De- 
iionville  resolved  to  em})loy  treachery ;  and  now,  through  Father 
de  Laniberville,  invited  tlie  Iro(]U(jis  chiefs  to  a  council  at  Cata- 
rafiui  in  the  following  spring,  intending  to  seize  them  all ;  and,  at 
the  same  time,  ho  sent  Father  Milet  to  that  fort  to  act  as  chaplain, 
and  when  necessary,  as  interpret«'r.  AYlien  the  deputies  arrived 
in  the  spring  of  1087  they  were  seized  and  sent  in  chains  to 
France.  This  news  came  like  a  thunderclap  on  the  cantons. 
All  rose  in  war.  De  Lamberville's  lite  was  forfeited:  but  the 
sachems  of  Onondaga  knew  Teiorhensere  too  well,  and  resolved 
to  save  his  life.  Summoning  him  iM'foro  them,  they  ex(daimed, 
alter  bitter  reproaches  to  the  governoi' :  "Every  consideration, 
leiorhensere,  would  justity  our  treating  thee  as  an  enemy  ;  but  we 
cannot  )>ring  ourselves  to  do  so.  We  know  thee  too  well  not  to 
he  convinced  that  thy  heart  had  no  part  in  the  act  of  treachery 


*  Chiirlev.  ii.  ?.35;  X.  Y.  Doc.  Hist.  i.  210. 


ai6 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


i     i 


which  tliou  hast  done  us ;  and  avu  are  not  so  unjust  as  to  puuisii 
thee  for  a  crime  of  whicli  we  beheve  thee  innocent ;  which,  doubt- 
less, thou  dost  detest  no  less  than  we  ;  and  of  which  thou  art  hoiii- 
fied  to  have  been  the  instrument.  Yet  it  will  not  do  for  ihw  to 
tarry  here;  all  will  not  perhaps  do  thee  the  same  justice  as  oui- 
selves;  and  when  our  young  braves  have  once  chanted  the  \\;ti- 
song,  they  will  behold  in  thee  only  a  traitor,  who  liasdelivercil  up 
our  chiefs  to  a  harsh  and  unworthy  slavery.     They  will  Ik  arkni 

•'  «.  %/ 

only  to  their  fury,  from  which  wo  could  not  save  thee.  Fly  tin  ii. 
Teiorhenserc,  tly !" 

jS'^or  did  they  allow  the  missionary  to  depart  alone  ;  guides  ami 
guards  led  him  in  safety  to  the  nearest  French  post,  and  returucij 
to  dance  the  war-dance  of  vengeance.* 

Tims  closed  in  the  spring  of  1G87  the  Iro(|Uois  mission,  fouinlid 
in  IGGT,  having  thus  histed  just  twenty  yeai-s,  a  period  illustiiuiis 
for  the  labors  of  the  zealous  men  employed  on  an  ungrateful  t;i>  ., 
subjected  to  reproach  and  calumny  even  in  Canada,  and  misivim- 
sented  in  many  writings  of  the  time.  Of  the  purity  of  their  iiio- 
tives  and  of  their  conduct,  time  and  frcv...loni  from  the  passions  tlkii 
aw.'ikened  enables  us  to  form  a  calm  and  unprejudiced  judgment. 

Their  triumph  had  been  great,  though  not  complete.  The  wor- 
ship oi'  the  demon  Aireskoi,  or  Agreskoue,  had  been  piiMicIy 
abolished ;  the  superstitious  slavery  to  dreams  had  been,  in  a  gitat 
measure  broken,  and  the  power  of  the  medicine-men  overtlirown. 
In  this  way  the  ground  had  been  prepared  for  the  superstnictiiiv 
of  Christianity ;  but  this  was  not  all.  Hundreds  of  infants  hh\ 
been  baptized  ;  many  adults  gained  to  tlie  truth,  as  death  ivv(:il« <! 
to  them  the  futility  of  their  idolatry;  nay  more,  many  iiad  in 
liealth  embraced  the  faith,  and  illustrated  tlie  Church  by  a  lit''  tt 
piety;  children  had  been  traine<l  up  in  the  knowledge  <»f  <^  In '>•• 

*  Charlevoix,  ii.  346,  nscribcathls  to  Garacoutii' ;  but  the  prcat  ch'ut'Kt'tlKit 
name  was  dead,  and  liis  brother  was  not  possessed  of  his  influence.  Col. 
Doc.  iii.  4r)3. 


FKEXCn   MISSIONS. 


317 


lic'nl  partaken  of  tlie  sarranionts,  and,  in  tlioir  riper  years,  ear- 
nestly adhered  to  tlie  gloiious  doetrines  impressed  on  their  infant 
niiiuls. 

At  tlie  moment,  when  the  labors  of  the  missi()narics  seemed 
(K'stiiK'd  to  gain  gTadually  the  great  end  of  the  entire  conversion  of 
tlif  tiihes,  the  jar  of  statesmen  and  human  avarice  was  to  iliive 
tluin  from  the  cantons.  But  as  we  have  seen,  ere  this  the  (.'atholic 
part  of  the  Iroquois  nation  had  begun  to  emigrjite.  The  baid<s  of 
the  St.  Lawrence,  the  old  home  of  their  nation,  were  now  adorned 
ly  villages  of  Iroquois,  who  gloried  in  the  name  of  Christians,  and 
"men  who  made  the  sign  of  the  cross." 

llencefortli  these  sedentary  missions  will  almost  entirely  claim 
our  attention.  Their  religious  history  is  calm  and  tranquil ;  the 
anival  of  pagans  to  be  converted,  the  seasons  of  fervor  or  of  te- 
l>iility,  the  death  of  one  noted  for  sanctity  or  piety,  are  the  events 
t(i  he  recorded.  Their  chief  historical  interest  lies  in  the  part  which 
they  occii})y  in  the  ensuing  wars. 

In  the  anny  which  Denonville  raised  to  advance  into  the  Seneca 
country,  the  Iroquois  of  the  Reductions  and  the  Ilurons  of  Lorettc 
took  their  stand  beside  the  Canadians,  and  tlie  regular  soldier 
of  France.  Tegaretwan  or  "  the  Sun,"  led  fifty  braves  from  the 
Mountain,  Garonhiaguo  as  many  from  Caughnawaga,  and  lifty 
more  followed  Gonhiagwi  (^the  Hcdvcn)  from  Lorette.  The  depu- 
ties of  the  cantons  had,  since  the  meetinij  at  IIunt;ry  IJay,  con- 
stantly  declared  that  tlie  praying  Indians  must  return  or  share  the 
fate  of  traitors.  To  return  to  the  dissolute  towns  of  New  York, 
now  destitute  of  missionaries,  was  to  abandon  their  faith  ;  neuti-ality 
was  impossible,  an<l  as  the  English  governor  threatened  severe  usage 
to  any  who  .appeared  in  New  York,  the  Catholic  Irocjuois  took  the 
only  course  left,  a  close  union  with  the  fVench. 

The  army  ])roceedeil  to  Irondequoit  Bay  and  threw  up,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  des  Sables,  a  fort  of  that  name.  This  force 
having  been  Ikmc  swelled  by  the  Ottawas,  who  had  come  down 


818 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


! 


!u- 


M 


with  Father  Enjalnm,  tliolr  niissionarv,DenoMvillt'  advanccMl  through 
the  defiles,  two  of  wliieli  hv  passed  in  safely,  but  at  tlie  tiiird  fell  liitD 
an  aiiihiish  of  800  Senecas.  The  Clinslian  Indians  received  the  liist 
shock,  a  volley  of  insults  and  bullets.  Stunij  by  tlie  former,  tli.  ir 
chiefs,  to  sliow  that  the  faith  did  not  make  them  cowards,  as  lii,- 
enemy  charged,  rushed  on,  and  both  fell  mortally  wounded.  "  1 
am  dead,"  exclaimed  Garonliia«nie  to  tlie  missionary  who  bent  over 
him  ;  "(jod  wills  it,  and  1  do  not  regret  to  die  since  Christ  died  \\<v 
me,"  and  witli  these  woi'ds  he  expired.  His  name  will  ever  be  ii- 
membered  in  tho  annals  of  tlie  mission.  Few  missionaries  ni.nit' 
more  converts  than  he,  as  they  themselves  testify :  as  a  catecliist. 
he  was  unequalled ;  as  a  Avarrior  and  sachen\,  he  enjoyed  the  higli<*>t 
reputation,  and  a  truly  Christian  death  ck)sed  his  career.* 

The  Sun  was  the  first  Christian  of  his  mission — the  prayci- 
chief.  For  the  twelve  years  that  he  had  spent  at  the  Mountain. 
he  had  been  so  complete  a  model  of  regularity,  that  he  was  be- 
lieved to  have  preserved  his  baptismal  innocence  to  the  grave.f 

After  ravaging  the  country,  Denonville  erected  a  fort  at  Nia- 
gara, and  returned.  Father  de  Lamberville,  anxious  to  hover 
around  his  old  mission-ground,  was  the  first  chaplain  of  this  jiu-t. 
Sent  there  in  September,  IGSV,  he  soon  fell  sick  of  the  scurvy, 
with  most  of  those  in  the  fort,  and  was  drawn  on  the  ice  in  aliiiot 
a  dying  state  to  Cataraqui.;};  He  was  succeeded  by  Milet,  who 
retired  when  the  fort  was  abandoned,  in  September,  1088. 

The  missionaries  now  used  every  efibrt  to  bring  about  a  peace. 
De  Lamberville  negotiated  with  the  Onondagas  at  Cataraqui. 
Vaillant  hastened  to  Xew  York,  Milet  sought  to  gain  his  Ont'i<la>. 
Denonville  saw  the  worth  of  the  missionaries,  no  less  than  his  cwn 
folly,  and  looked  upon  their  return  to  the  cantons  as  the  only  hope 
of  peace;  but  this  was  now  impossible.  The  French  had  i«>*t 
ground.     The   Iroquois   at  the  Rapids   and  Mountain   began  l" 

*  Clinrlcvoix.       +  St.  Valier,  Ktat  dc  rEfrlise,  &o.       t  Charlev.  ii.  oOi*. 


FRENCH  MISSIONS. 


Sid 


wfivor.  Thoy  suiTendored  tlicir  ])risoii(.'rs.  ]-}ut  this  d'ul  not  snvo 
the  latter  tVoin  an  attack,  in  wliich  llaratsioii,  a  cliict'  of  ii^reat 
worth,  was  shiin/*^  ^'il'tv  Jit  onco  left  the  village  at  the  Ra[>i(ls  tor 
the  cantons,  and  the  panic  was  general.  Ki'vn,  the  great  Mo- 
hawk, was,  however,  undismayed,  llis  eloquence  and  skill  pre- 
jwiTVed  th<3  mission ;  and  such  was  his  i)Ower  over  the  Mohaw  ks, 
that,  alone  and  unarmed,  he  induced  a  war-party  to  return. 

In  June,  1G89,  Fort  Frontenac  was  still  invested,  and  Father 
Milet,  whose  zeal  and  charity  Avere  known,  was  lured  out  to  attend 
a  tlying  Christian  brave,  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Oneidas, 
who,  exulting  at  their  good  tbrtune,  inflicted  on  hiia  the  j)relimi- 
naiT  tortures.  The  stake  at  wiiich  so  nuuiv  French  ])risoners 
[•erished  would  now  liave  been  his  fate,  had  not  a  matron  adopted 
and  saved  liim.f 

Soon  after  this  came  the  terrible  massacre  <jf  Laehine,  where,  in 

a  single  night,  the  Iroquois  butchered  two  hundred  Canadians, 

men,  women,  and  children,  with  fiightful  cruelty,  led  oft'  as  many 

for  future  torture,  and  gave  the  country  to  the  liames,  to  the  veiy 

t>ates  of  Montreal.     Panic  seized  all.     E\erv  eftbrt  to  arrest  tlie 

r 
tk'stroying  band  proved  unavailing.     The  small  bodies  sent  out 

Were  cut  to  pieces.     The  braves  of  the  Mountain  and  Caughna- 

waga  were  defeated,  and  the  inhal>itants  of  those  two  villages  came 

to  >h)ntreal  for  safety ;;{;  destined  in  the  midst  of  that  city  to  lose 

much  of  their  fervor. 

The  French  resolved  to  retaliate  this  massacre  on  the  English — 
the  instigators  of  the  Indian  war.  A  plan  was  formed  for  the 
conquest  of  New  York,  and  J^e  Moyne  de  St.  Ilelene  and  d'Aille- 
hout  de  Mantet  led  into  New  York  a  force  of  about  a  Inmdred 
Irenehmen,  with  eighty  Indians  of  the  Rapid  and  Mountain,  com- 
manded bv  Krvn,  the  o;reat  ^[ohawk.8 

Schenectady  was  the  first  point  of  attack.     As  they  approached, 


jarlev.  ii.  30'.'. 


*  Dc  Belmont. 
t  Cluvrlev.  il;  408. 


+  Dc  Belmont ;  Dc  la  Pothcrio. " 
§  Doc.  Hi».  i.  298. 


320 


AMERICAN   OATJIOLIC   MISSIONS. 


I'wrvii  acKliossod  liis  men.  lie  uii;-o(l  on  all  (o  }H'rfuiin  their  duty, 
aiid  forget  their  W('ariii('s«<  in  hojU's  «»t'takiini:  full  veni^eaiu't^  (»f  all 
the  wi'(»iii>"s  tlu'V  had  recciviHl  iVoiii  their  couiitrvnieii  at  the  iiisii- 
g'ati(»u  of  the  Eii<i^li«^h.  The  town  was  taken  (•onH)K'toly  hy  sur- 
prise, left  undefended  in  conse'jUence  of  the  eivil  war  then  i>re\;iil- 
in<;-  between  Leisler  and  Uayar<l.  I'he  houses  were  tired,  and 
sixty-three  of  the  inhabitants  butchered.  Such  ciueliy  we  ni.iy 
deplore,  but  venufeance  is  ever  crui'l. 

Soon  after  this  canipaijj^n  of  the  iJeduction  braves,  the  Moun- 
tain lost  the  amnl  Francis  Tehoronhionuo,  loni'  since  blind,  bin 
devoted  at  prayer  and  devotional  exercises;  for  he  sought  to  <il>- 
tain  the  conversion  of  an  erring  and  impenitent  son.  At  la>t, 
worn  down  by  the  weight  of  over  a  hundred  years,  he  expired  nii 
the  21st  of  April,  1(500,  having  been  "by  his  piety  anil  probity 
the  example  of  the  Christians  and  the  wonder  of  the  unbelieM-r."-' 

Not  long  after,  Kryn,  the  great  Mohawk,  set  out  with  Liiu- 
tenant  Beauvais  on  a  war-party;  but  while  lialting  at  Saliii'Hi 
liiver  on  the  4th  of  June,  1G90,  to  throw  np  a  stockade,  tlicv 
were  suddenly  attacked  by  some  Abnakis,  who  mistook  them  for 
English.  At  the  first  tire  Kryn  fell  dead,  and  some  others  were 
killed  before  the  mistake  was  discovered.  Thus,  after  neaii\ 
twenty  yeare  spent  in  tlie  mission,  the  great  Mohawk  chief,  wliesL- 
talents,  piety,  and  zeal  endeared  him  to  the  French,  fell  by  a 
friendly  lumd.  The  governor  deplored,  in  his  death,  the  loss  of  a 
faithful  ally,  but  the  missionaries  that  of  a  most  faithful  coadjutor. 
In  his  own  canton  he  had  never  lost  esteem,  and  at  his  death  tixie 
were  hopes  of  his  drawing  the  w  hole  canton  to  Canada.f 

The  Christian  Indians  liad  now  to  a  great  extent  assumed  tlie 
European  dress,  and  several  bore  military  giades  in  the  Ficntli 
service.J  One  of  the  most  active  otiicers,  indeed,  was  Lieuteiiani 
La[»laque,  a  nephew  of  Kryn's,  who  figures  i!i  all  the  accounts  of 


*  Faillon,  Vie  dc  la  Sneur  Bourjrcoj  s,  1.  500. 
X  Doo.  Col.  Hist.  iii.  4^f*. 


t  Charlevoix. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


321 


tlu'  time,  as  the  heir  of  his  imcle'.s  bravery,  but  not,  initortuiiatoly, 
of  his  virtues. 

Tlie  Mohawks,  in  thtir  iiu'oads,  now  eanicMl  off  sonu;  of  iIk^ 
('au<;linawa^as,  and  in  1001  attacked  the;  Mountain.  At  the 
latter  mission  a  loni^j  Hijjlit  took  ]>hict',  but  the  Christian  Indians 
\va>ted  th<'ir  fire,  and,  after  losint;  their  eliief,  Tondiharon,  saw 
thirty-five  of  tlieir  women  and  chilthen  draufjjfed  off  as  cai)tives. 
In  spite  of  the  hostihty  tluis  siiown  l>y  tlie  cantons,  natural  alfec- 
tion  f'rei|Uently  made  tlie  C  li-  m  Iroijuois  (hipcs  of  tlieir  dupli- 
city. Frontena(!,  who  liad  ai^ain  come  out  as  f^overnor,  bearini^ 
the  chiefs  seized  at  Catara<jui,  had  always  l)een  prejudiced  aj^ainst 
them  and  their  missionaries.  In  his  ann^er  at  their  proK'iit  (conduct, 
he  attacked  the  Jesuit  Fathers  for  not  makint;  them  more  French, 
and  the  cliarjije  is  renewed  by  his  flatterer,  tin;  Jxecollect  Father 
Le  Clercq.*  llis  ])lan  was  to  bring  the  Indians  and  whites  in 
constant  contact,  in  the  idea  of  thus  civilizing  the  foi-mer.  Ex- 
perience had  tauglit  tlie  Jesuits,  and  the  failure  of  every  su<*h 
etiort  has  shown  conclusively,  that  this  plan  is  fatal  to  the  Fiulian. 
At  that  very  moment  the  Catholic  Iro((Uois  were  a  proof  of  this, 
and  their  recent  residence  in  Montreal  sliould  have  been  enough 
to  dissipate  any  idea  of  benefitiiig  them  by  contact  with  the 
whites. 

Accordingly,  as  soon  as  Phipps  was  defeated  before  Quebec, 
and  the  New  York  army,  thinned  by  sickness,  had  disbanded,  the 
Jesuits  and  Sulpitians  hastened  to  collect  their  flocks  again  at  the 
old  missions.  The  evil,  liowever,  had  been  done,  and  from  this 
tune  their  much-admired  l>iety  decayed,  and  on  its  loss  a  decay 
of  morals  necessaiily  followed.  This  was  not  so  total  as  to  efface 
all  their  former  attachment  to  religion.  Althouirh  it  was  no  lonnfer 
the  spirit  of  the  whole  body,  many  cases  occur  evincing  the  con- 
tinuance of  their  primitive  fervor. 


Etablisscment  do  la  Foi.    See  Shea,  Discovery  of  the  Mississippi,  p.  70. 

14* 


322 


AMERICAN  C:iTHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


rl 


H 


p 

i 


At  tlio  very  period  of  which  we  speak,  Stephen  tc  (Janoiiakoa 
displayed  a  heroism  vvoi'thy  of  a  place  among  the  noblest  acts  ot' 
the  martyrs.  Surprised  while  huntinnf,  in  September,  1G90,  by  ,i 
Cayuga  party,  lie,  his  wite,  and  a  companion  were  conducted  lu 
Onondaga,  and  there  received  with  fiendish  joy.  Stephen  \\a> 
forced  to  run  the  gauntlet  and  un<lergo  the  usual  tortures;  but  lie 
avowed  himself  a  Christian,  happy  to  suffer  as  such,  even  to  tl^' 
loss  of  life.  In  the  torture,  while  they  were  tearing  out  his  nails 
and  cutting  off  his  fingers,  one  of  his  tormentors  cried,  "  I'rayl" 
"Yes,"  said  Stephen,  "I  will;"  and  raising  his  fettered  hands,  In- 
blessed  himself  in  a  loud  voice;.  A  shout  of  rage  l)urst  from  \\u' 
crowd,  and  rushing  on  him,  they  cut  ofi"  half  his  remaining  fiiigris. 
"  Pray  now  I"  yelled  the  infuriated  savajxes,  and  aixain  he  raisod 

•  •  •  •  •  • 

his  hand  to  his  forehead ;  and  again  rushing  on  hmi,  they  hadoil 
off  all  liis  fingers,  leaving  only  the  mangled  jxalm.  Blows,  insult-, 
taunts,  all  were  showered  upon  liim,  and  again  tliey  dared  him  tn 
pray.  As  this  true  lover  of  the  cross  again  raised  his  hand,  it  w.is 
entirely  cut  ofi\  wliile,  as  if  to  efface  the  hated  sign,  wherever  his 
hand  had  touched  forehead,  shoulders,  or  breast,  was  slashed  with 
their  knives.  He  next  underwent  the  torture  of  fire ;  and  triunipli- 
ing  over  all,  was  at  last  bound  to  the  stake.  "  Enjoy,"  he  ex- 
claimed— "  enjoy,  my  brethren,  the  savage  delight  you  take  in 
burning  me.  Spare  not !  My  sins  deserve  far  more  than  yuur 
cruelty  can  inflict,  and  the  more  you  torment  me,  the  richer  my 
crown  in  heaven  shall  be."  Nor  did  they  spare  him.  Yet  all 
their  cruelty  could  not  wring  a  sigh  from  the  hero  who  sttMicl 
motionless  there,  with  his  eyes  raised  to  heaven,  and  his  soul  rapt 
in  prayer.  At  last,  feeling  the  dew  of  death  on  his  brow,  ho 
asked  a  moment's  calm,  and  chanted  aloud  his  dying  prayer — a 
prayer  for  his  torturers,  who  in  a  few  moments  completed  their 
work. 

He  had  been  ever  distinguished  at  the  mission  for  his  fervor  ami 
regularity,  and  especially  for  his  careful  education  of  his  childteu. 


-J>*^ 


FRE^X'JI    MISSIONS. 


323 


)  (iranoiiako.'i 
oblest  JU'ts  ot' 
r,  1G90,  l.y  m 
conductc'tl  In 
Stephen  \v;t> 
tures;  but  li<' 
,  even  to  tln' 
r  out  his  n:iil> 
rie.l,  "I'ray!" 

;i'e(.l  liands,  lie 
urst  tVoin  tli-' 
aininijf  fini'vis. 
rain  he  I'aiscil 
»,  tliev  hack'd 
llhnvs,  iiisult>, 
'  daved  him  U> 
is  hand,  it  was 
,  wherever  liis 
IS  shashed  witli 
;  and  tnunii>li- 
Injoy,"  he  <*x- 
vou  take  in 
ore  than  y«iui' 
lie  richer  my 
[lim.     Yet  nil 
iro  who  stcMjd 
d  his  soul  rapt 
his  brow,  lio 
ing  prayer — a 
Miipleted  their 

his  fervor  aiul 
)f  his  childreu. 


Ills  wife  escaped,  as  ho  had  hitnselt' predicted,  and  returned  to  tho 
mission. 

Tiiis  case  alone  shows  the  injustice  of  Frontenac's  suspicions  of 
the  Christian  Indians ;  nor  were  other  evidences  wanting.  Two 
holts,  sent,  by  Onondaga  to  the  chief  of  tho  Mountain  and  to  Louis 
Atcrihata  of  Caughiiawaga,  were  at  once  placed  in  his  hands,  and 
the  whole  design  of  the  canton  made  known  to  him. 

Ill  August,  1G91,  the  fear  of  an  English  attack  again  assemlded 
a  motley  force  at  Laprairie.  The  llurons  came,  led  on  by  Oureou- 
liare,  a  Cayuga  chief,  who  had  been  seized  at  Cataraipii,  sent  to 
the  ijallevs  in  France,  but  now  so  won  by  Frontenac,  who  had 
brought  him  back,  that  he  had  already,  on  several  occasions,  sig- 
ualizt'd  himself  on  the  side  of  the  FVcnch  :  the  Cauoflinawaofas  were 
led  hy  I'aul,  their  Huron  chief,  and  tho  Temiscamings  by  La  Kou- 
tiiK'.  The  confederate  camp  was  negligently  guarded,  and  as  a 
contemporary  document*  declares,  a  scenii  of  riot  and  debauch. 
Oil  a  sudden  an  English-Mohawk  force  burst  into  the  camp,  but 
was  r('j)ulsed  by  the  French,  who  lost,  however,  their  commander, 
S(.  Cyrque,  and  a  detachment  which  pursued  the  enemy  too  far. 
hi  the  general  fight  which  ensued  the  New  Yorkers  were  tinally 
beaten,  and  gave  way,  leaving  120  dead,  and  more  wounded  on 
the  field.  The  French  lost  two  officers ;  but  the  Caughnawagas 
had  to  deplore  the  loss  of  their  head  chief  Paul,  who  fell  exhorting 
his  men  to  combat  to  the  last  the  enemies  of  the  faith.  Other 
chiefs  here  signalized  themselves  so  as  to  leave  no  doubt  of  their 
attaidiment.f  The  loss  of  Paul  was  a  severe  blow  ;  for  he  was  one 
of  the  oldest  and  most  fervent,  as  he  was,  undoubtedly,  the  ablest 
and  most  eloquent  chief  at  the  mission  of  the  Rapid. 

The  month  of  November  was  marked  by  two  new  efforts  against 
Caughiiawaga ;  both  failed,  but  a  detachment  of  the  second  party 
tell  on  a  band  of  Christian  hunters  near  Chambly  and  killed  or 


*  Ilibtoire  de  TEau  de  Vie.    Quebec  Hist  Coll.       +  De  la  Poth.  iii. 


324 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


took  twelve ;  tlie  Caiiglnia\v<Mijfa.s  were  at  onco  in  pursuit,  and,  ovt  r- 
takint(  the  Moliawks  on  tlic  hanks  of  L:ike  Chani|»lain,  altackt'(l 
tluMii  in  tiicir  intrcnclii'd  )»ositi(»n,  and  succet'de<l  in  dt'hverinjnf  thtir 
oountrvnien,  lakinuf  or  kilMnLT  thirty  of  the  enemy. 

'riie  CaULrlinawaiias  next  aj^war  in  Mantel's  expedition  at;Miii>f 
tlie  Moluiwks,  in  whieli  tiirir  atfection  for  tlieir  own  tril)e  led  thtiii 
to  steps  whieh  imperilled  the  safety  of  all.  ]>ut  tlu-y  were  faithful 
to  the  French,  and  eiiually  so  to  their  religion.  Kranees  (Jonaiilia- 
tenha  was  a  convert  of  Fremin's,  and  the  model  of  Caughnawaga 
for  her  piety,  modesty,  and  charity;  tln)  mon;  remarkable,  as  llie 
pristine  spirit  of  the  mission  was  gone,  having  declined  from  the 
moment  when  Frontenac  refused  to  aid  the  missionaries  in  exclu- 
ding licjuor  from  the  mission.  Fr.inces  heard  one  day  of  the  ap- 
proach of  a  hostile  l>ai1y  towards  the  spot  whei'e  her  husband  was 
hunting:  she  instantly  started  in  her  canoe,  with  two  others,  tt» 
go  and  warn  him ;  but  alas !  arrived  only  to  see  him  slain,  and 
become,  with  her  companions,  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy. 

Their  torments  began  on  the  first  evening:  their  uails  were  torn 
out,  their  fingers  burnt.  When  they  reached  Onondaga,  the  native 
place  of  Frances,  she  was  given  to  her  own  sister,  who,  dead  to  all 
the  ties  of  blood  and  the  cries  of  natuie,  gave  her  up  to  die.  On 
the  scatibld  she  loudly  professed  her  faith  and  her  happiness  in 
dying  for  such  a  cause.  A  relative  used  every  entreaty  to  induce 
her  to  renounce  the  faith,  till,  furious  at  her  resistance,  he  tore  licr 
crucifix  from  her  neck,  and,  with  his  knife,  slashed  a  cross  on  her 
uncovered  breast.  "  I  thank  thee,  brother,"  she  exclaimed ;  "  it  was 
possible  to  lose  the  cross  of  which  thou  hast  despoiled  me,  but 
thou  hast  given  me  one  I  can  lose  only  with  my  life."  She  then 
spoke  to  all  present  with  great  forc«  and  unction,  exhorting  them 
to  embrace  the  faith  as  the  only  means  of  escaping  eternal  torments 
infinitely  more  frightful  than  those  which  she  was  to  sufter. 

Their  hearts,  however,  were  untouched :  she  was  tortured  for 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


825 


tliri'c  succM'ssivo  niiflits ;  tlieii  ti('(l  to  tlio  stake,  ami,  after  hvwvj^  hnrui 
for  a  c'oiis'nU'raKle  time,  was  s('al|«'<l  ami  forctd  to  run  till  she  ti'll 
JH'ncatli  a  sliinvcr  of  stones,  which  she  received  on  her  knees,  tor 
after  rnnniiijL?  for  some  distance,  she  kmlt  to  otjer  lu-r  lite  to  (iod. 
SiicJi  is  the  account  of  her  heroic  death  Lfiven  l»y  the  Kreiich  piis- 
uiiers,  one  of  whom  did  all  to  alleviate  her  suH'erines  during  her 
loiiir  inartvrdom.* 

Durinir  all  this  time  Father  Milet  had  been  a  prisoner  at  <  Mieida. 
Although  subjected  to  torture  at  his  capture,  his  life  was  spare*  1  on 
arrivinij  in  the  canton,  and  lie  was  assi<rtied  to  a  s«juaw,  who  thu> 
Ict'l  to  choose  whether  she  should  adopt  him  instead  of  a  lost  mem- 
ber of  the  family,  or  sacrifiee  him  to  his  manes,  ch»)se  the  former. 
The  missionaiy  was  tlius  comparatively  free.  A  few  old  Huron 
Christians  still  remained  at  One ida.  These  eiiioved  Jiis  minisfrv, 
;iiid  the  Oneidas  were  aijain  exhorted  to  embrace  the  jjospel.  The 
French  prisonei*s,  whom  he  could  not  save,  he  attended  in  death, 
consolinr;  and  encouraginij^  them  amid  those  torments  which  mii^ht 
vet  be  his  own.f  (jiraduallv  the  Oneidas  became  attached  to  the 
missionary,  and,  in  spite  of  all  the  etiorts  of  the  Knj^lish  to  obtain 
possession  of  liim,  kept  Milet  at  Oneida,  and  becyan  to  treat  with 
the  French.  Accordingly  in  June,  1093,  Tareha,  one  of  the  cliiefs, 
[•roceeded  to  Quebec  to  negotiate  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  T'he 
letter  of  the  missionary  secured  him  a  favorable  reception,  and  in 
September  he  again  visited  Quebec  with  the  squaw  wlio  had 
adopted  Milet,  and  who,  apparently  won  by  him,  now  came  osten- 
sibly to  see  the  great  governor  of  the  French,  but  really  to  remain 
as  a  Christian.  She  was  instructed,  ]>aptized  by  the  name  of  Su- 
sanna, and  settled  at  Caughnawaga,  where  she  died  llfteen  yeai^s 
after,  having  constantly  edified  the  mission  by  her  fervor  and  piety. 


*  <'harlevoix,  ii. ;  LcttresEdifiantcs  ;  Kip,  Jesuit  Missions. 

t  There  is  still,  in  the  archives  at  Quebec,  tiic  decision  and  arjruinents  in 
■i  Oii-;e  arisina:  fts  to  tlie  validity  of  the  nuncupative  will  nfa<'iUiadianburne<l 
"t  Oneida,  to  which  Father  Milct  was  a  witness. 


320 


AMKHICAN   CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


B  |;    . 


Tlic  (■iiil);is>^v  ot'Tarrlia  was  lollnwril  liv  oiio  I'loiii  (aviiu'a  ami 
SciK'ca,  li'il  hy  'rt'ii"ajiiii>N«tr('ii,  ait  <  MiiUitlaya  cliict',  \\\io  ihav  in-m- 
|ti<'il  tlu' |n»sifi(iii  oiicr  licid  liy  ( iaiacoiifii',  as  a  tVi«'!ii|  of  till'  I'VriK  li. 
J't'acc  was  now  |»r«'|»art'tl,  ainl  oii  the  icsioratioii  of  Kallifi' Milil  ia 
(  h'toinT,  IGO  I,  ('oiiclutlfd.''-  'I'lic  iiiissjoiiarv  had  Ihi'Ii  live  \vn\>,  a 
captivt',  and,  on  the  jx-acc,  «aiiir>lly  >(»ul;'1iI  Io  ivinin  :  Imf  an  iiiiv;- 
lisli  fort  at  <  Mioiidau'a  icndi-icd  a  mi.-<>ioii  un:-at't',  ami,  ind.cd,  ih.' 
jM'aci'  sc'(.'nu'd  only  drhisiNc.f 

W.ir,  in  tact,  lnokc  out  tlif  next  vi-ar ;  Imt  l-'rontcnac,  witli  liis 
Fivncli  and  Indian  forces,  ravaii'inuj  <  )non«lan'a  and  Oncitla,  foi'crd 
tluMii  to  a  dt'finiic  tn'aty.  huiinii'  the  war,  howt-vcr,  the  ("atliMlIc 
lio(|Uois  of  the  Mountain  lost  their  excellent  chiet",  1'otathiron,  l'\ 
an  accitleiit  similar  to  that  hv  wliich  the  i;reat  Kivn  had  fallen.! 
(auij^hnawaira,  meanwhile,  received  an  accession  of  thirty-three 
()nei<las,  wlio  came  to  settle,  and  earnestly  beixi^ed  to  have  Fatliir 
Milet,  to  wliom  they  were  extremely  attached.  If  this,  how. Mr, 
elate<l  the  Christians,  they  were  soon  saddened  hy  the  death  v\ 
Oureouhare,  >vho,  on  his  return  from  a  mission  to  liis  native  canton 
of  Cayuc'a,  where  he  disposed  all  minds  to  jwace,  was  seized  wiili 
a  pleurisy,  wliich  in  a  few  days  hurried  liim  to  the  ^rave.  At 
fii-st,  tlie  hitter  enemy  and  p<'rsecntor  of  de  Carheil,  then,  l>y  a 
base  stratajGfem,  sent  to  the  yalleys  of  France  to  toil  amid  tin-  mit- 
casts  of  European  society,  Oureouhare  had,  under  the  instructions 
of  Fatlier  Le  Koux,^  learned  to  love  and  appreciate  the  heauties 
of  Christianity ;  and,  on  his  return  to  Cayuga,  exerted  all  his  in- 
fluence in  favor  of  reliijion  and  civilization.  His  fiery  zeal  relicil, 
perhaps,  as  it  too  often  happens,  on  his  own  ]Mowess,  and  his  ex- 
pression, when  listenino;  on  his  death-bed  to  the  story  of  the  in- 
diijnities  otfered  to  the  man-god,  recalls  that  of  Clovis,  and  shows  a 
striking  resemblance  of  character  between   the   chieftain  of  tlii- 


*  l)c  la  I'otli.  ill.  248. 

t  MS.  Limd-papcr  oHu^c.  Canada. 

X  De  la  Potli.  iii.  '_'.V.,  ?  Paris  Doc,  Boston,  iv.  217. 


Ij. 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


327 


Cnyuua  iiii'l 

(I   lloW   (idU- 

'  till'  l"'ifii<  li. 

tluM'  Milrt  ill 

1  live  Vi'Siis  ;i 

* 

Itut  all  KiiLr- 
,  iiali'(.'»l.  ill.' 

iiac,  with  lii> 
iu'i«la,  tuifrd 
tilt'  C'alli<4ic 
otutiiil"«»ii,  li\ 


Fiatiks  and  tlio  sacluMii  ^A'  Cavuufa.*  "<>,  luul  I  boon  tlicro,"  lie 
crii'd,  "tlii'V  ncviT  should  jiavo  so  tn-atctl  my  <iod  I"  torg.'ttiii<x  lor 
a  iiioinotit  that  il<»  who  sulVtTcd  ui'cdfd  no  ana  to  stiikf  in  his  di- 
fciicc;  or,  lik<'  iN-tcr,  noMy  dcsifiiiji;  to  din  ln'sidi!  him. 

llt'^nt'tti'd  by  th»^  whole  ('(doiiy,  and  cspt'cially  by  Frontmjic, 
Omcouhafo  was  ititrnod  as  a  cajttain  in  tin*  Kivnch  army. 

riif  mission  of  the  Mountain  was  soon  at'tci"  dosolatcd  by  a  con- 
llaijration,  tlie  Imletul  oll'octs  ot'  intoxication.  ( )n  th»',  11th  of  S.-j.- 
t(  iiiboi",  1004,  a  young  ln'avo,  for  som«!  faucitvl  insult,  iMtshcd  in  a 
drunken  phrensy  to  an  enemy'-*  cal)in,  and  flivd  into  it;  th«;  liy;ht 
haik  was  soon  n  llames,  and  a  i>a£^  of  |)ow(ler  i;avo  the  <K>voui"inij 
element  a  deadly  inipelse.  !n  thi'ee  liours  tifty  cabins,  fifteen  Kreiieh 
li(»uses,  the  beautiful  a;  1  w*  'l-adorned  cliureh,  and  tlie  all-important 
village  palisade,  were  red  '..'ed  to<«  lies.f  Tiiest'  had  all  been  raised 
by  Mr.  de  Uelmont,  and  nonsi«t'\.  of  wood;  not  disheartene<l,  he 
now  })eijan,  at  his  own  o.\pen^e,  a  ston  fort,  eoujpletetl  in  1098, 
after  an  outlay  of  over  IOi»,'>00  livres.  As  soon  as  the  towers  were 
erected  lie  gave  the  i  >ngregation  Sisters  one  1  '•'  j  residence,  the 
other  for  a  school,  and  as  such  they  Wi>re  occupied  till  the  mission 
Avas  removed  to  the  Sault  au  liecollet.| 

In  the  course  of  the  ftllowino;  year  tin*  mission  was  to  lose  its 
brightest  flower.  Sister  Mary  Theresa  <  iannensagwas  [shr  fakes  the 
arm),  the  granddaughter  of  Francis  Tehoronhiongo.  She  was  one 
of  Sister  l^ourgeoys'  i-arliest  pupils  and  Indian  associates.  After 
having  long  edified  all  by  her  piety,  modesty,  talents,  industry,  and 
zeal,  she  WU'  -  !zed  witli  a  fatal  malady,  and  died  in  the  odor  of 
satietity  on  the  25th  of  November,  1005.  Sh*'  had  aske<]  to  be 
buried  privately  in  her  poor  habit;  but  such  was  the  esteem  t'nt<'r- 
taii)<id  for  her,  that  slie  was,  like  her  grandfather,  interred  in  the 
new  mission  church ;  and,  when  that  was  demolished,  the  remains 


*  Sec  N.  Y.  Hist.  Coll,  TI.  ii.  109. 

t  Ilistoirc  de  rEiiu  do  Vio  eii  Cimada,  p.  }■> ;  Vie  do  In  Soeiir  liourgeovK, 
i.  3(,H:  De  la  Potlieric.  iii.  204.  X  I'J-  -'"'•"• 


328 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


\l 


!; 

\ 

i 

1 

i 

t 

1 

of  both  were  traristcirod  to  one  of  the  towers  of  the  fort,  now  iiseil 
as  a  chapel.* 

The  next  year  the  Sulpitians  resolved  to  divide  the  mission  ;  jiinl 
sixty,  who  w<Me  ^iven  to  intoxication,  were  sent  oi^'  to  the  Sault  an 
Kecollet,  wliere  tiie  new  mission  of  Lorette  was  begun  l)y  Mi. 
Maurice  Quere  de  Tremnon  ;  three  years  later  another  colony  was 
sent,  lea\in<r  only  120  at  the  M(»untain.  The  new  mission  hail 
now  inn)roved  so  much  in  tone  and  numbers,  that  in  ITOI  tin- 
Sisters  of  the  Congregation  left  the  Mountain  and  took  up  tlnir 
residence  in  a  new  house  which  they  had  erected  in  the  fort  at  tli.- 
Sault  au  Kecollet,  on  the  banks  of  the  Desprairies  liiver.f  lltic. 
as  in  the  old  luission,  two  sisters  taught  the  Indian  girls  to  wuik 
and  read,  keeping  six  jis  boardei's  with  themselves,  who  gradual! \ 
ac([uired  European  habits,  and,  as  they  grew  up,  tended  much  tn 
improve  their  countrymen.]; 

The  mission  of  the  Mountain  was  finally  abandoned  in  1704,  and 

*  The  following  inscriptions  are  still  to  be  seen  there : 

loi  reposunt 

Ifs  rcstes  mortels 

dc 

FRAN(;'OIS  TIIORONIIIONGO, 

Huron, 

Baptise  })ar  le  lievun'-nd 

PicuK  Bbebeuk. 

II  fut,  par  sapiete  et  par  sa  probiti'-,  rexeinpic  tics  Chretiens  ct  I'adiniratijii 

dcs  iuflJeles:  il  mouriit,  ajji-  d'environ  100  ana,  le  21  avril,  1090. 

Tci  repose nt 

les  restes  mortels 

do 

MAEIE-TIIERESA   GANNEN8AQOUA8, 

de  la 

CoNOnEGATIOX    DE   NoTRE    DaME. 

Apres  avoir  exerce  pendant  treizo  ans,  I'otfico  de  niaitresse  d'eeole 

a  la  Montague,  ellc  niourut  en  reputation  de  grande 

vertn,  agcc  do  DS  ans,  lo  25  Novcnibre,  l(j95. 

Ilcr  life  was  written  by  do  Belmont  in  his  "  ElogoH  de  quolquos  personnel 
niortcs  en  odenr  de  saintett^  a  Montreal  en  Canada,"  and  is  still  preserved. 
+  Vlo  de  la  Soeur  Bourgeuys,  ii.  1  (]'.•.  %  Id. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


329 


till'  new  one  took  the  title  of  tlie  Annunciation,  and  continu«'<.l. 


as 


.Ii 


l)esi(,le  tile  Jiaitid,  wli 


di.-a. 


\w  >naii  see,  tor  some  years  oesiue  ine  Jiapui,  wnere  >  um  jtcnsnt-a.' 
<  >t  tile  Jesuit  mission  of  Sault  St.  Louis  we  luive,  tiuriiiii'  tliis 
jieiiod,  no  account ;  it  iiad  finally  settled  in  its  present  locality,  and 
;i  i;rant  of  tlie  seigniory  had  been  ol»tained  in  the  name  of  the  In- 
(liaiis  who  still  possess  it. 

liie  border-war  ended  with  the  jteace  of  Kyswick,  in  1007,  an<l 
tile  French  then  hope*!,  as  the  English  dreaded,  to  see  the  restora- 
tion of  the  Jesuit  missions.  The  seed  of  t^)j-position  sown  by  l)on- 
..Mii  had  now  ifrowu  to  ri[)eness,  and  a  new  governor,  an  Irish  peer, 
ut'  deep-rooted  fanaticism,  ruled  the  destinies  of  New  York.  One 
of  his  tiist  acts  wsis  to  warn  tlie  Indians  against  the  French  priests. 
Mindful  of  Dongan's  promise  of  English  Black-gowns,  the  deputies 
:i>b.'d  ilellamont  to  fullil  it.  Accordingly,  Delliu.s,  tlu;  I)utch 
I'lotor  at  Albany,  was  aj)pointed  missionary  to  the  Mohawks, 
■iltliuiigh  he  never  took  up  his  residence  among  them,  and  limited 
liis  ministry  to  occasional  visits,  when  he  preached  by  an  interpie- 
t<  r,  and  to  the  administration  of  baptism  to  such  children  as  were 
hroiight  to  him  iu  Albany.  Such  u  man  hardly  seemed  to  the  In- 
vliaiis  a  successor  of  F'reinin,  liruyas,  and  Boniface,  whose  cabins 
had  so  long  been  seen  in  their  villages.  Disappointed  in  their  ap- 
plication to  New  York,  they  naturally  turned  to  Canada  for  reli- 
gious teachers,  liellamont  was  provoked,  and  resolved  to  exclude 
the  Jesuits,  unblushingly  declaring  "■  that  the  Five  Nations  had 
earnestly  implored  him  to  drive  out  the  Jesuits  who  ojipressed 
tliein,"  although  he  knew  that  sin<;e  1085  tliere  had  been  no  mis- 
sionary iu  the  cantons,  e.\ce)»t  Father  Milet,  and  he  not  oppressor, 
hut  oppressed,  a  prisoner  and  a  slave. 

To  carry  out  his  plan,  he  sent  to  the  Assembly  the  draft  of  a 
hill  against  Jesuits  and  priests.  It  was  not  relished  :  several  of  the 
missionaries  had,  at  various  times,  visited  the  colony ;  they  were 
kiKtwn  and  esteemed  by  the  leading  men,  who  had  thus  been 


*  Vigor,  MS. 


330 


AMKllICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


I,  . 


eiial)l(Ml  to  s('(*  (.'atliolicitv  iti  its  workiiicjs,  wliicli  tlio  iiil'atuatcil 
^ovcriioi"  had  no!.  Tlic  Council  nci^Mtivt'd  tin*  hill:  l)('llaiiioiii 
Noting  as  a  nn'iiihcr  made  a  tic,  and  then  votinj^  ai^aiii  asoMvnucir 
canit'd  it;  and,  liavino;  ol>tained  its  j)assau;c  in  the  house,  niadr  ii 
tlio  hiw  of  the  land.  Assuniinij;  the  lro»|Uois  to  be  suhjects  ot"  lli.- 
Knglisli  monarch,  and  witli  still  greater  disn-gard  of  truth,  averring 
that  "Jesuit  priests  and  popish  missionaries  iia<l  laicbj  coww  intc. 
and,  for  some  time,  had  had  their  residence  in  remote  parts  of  tin' 
province,  to  excite  hostility  against  the  English  government,"  iln' 
bill  enac.'ts  that  every  priest  in  the  colony,  "  after  the  Lst  of  Novem- 
ber, ITOO,  be  deemed  an  incendiary,  disturber  of  the  jmblic  peace. 
and  enemy  of  tiie  Christian  religion,"  and  condenmed  him  to  pei- 
petual  imprisonment ;  and,  in  <*ase  of  escape,  to  death,  if  retaken. 

The  generous  burghers  and  their  clergy, Nvho  liad  so  often  shown 
ho.s)»italitv  to  the  French  missionaries,  were  bvll»e  same  act  threat- 
eiied  with  a  l»eavy  fine  and  the  l>illory,  should  they  ever  again 
liarbor  a  priest  beneath  their  roofs. 

Ignorance  and  absunlitv  could  go  no  further :  the  fierv /e.ilet 
was  satisfied  with  his  act ;  the  New  Yorkers  disregarded  it,  and  tln' 
very  next  vear  the  Canadian  Ibe-rville  landed  a  Jesuit  at  New  Voik 
to  proceed  to  Canada.* 

]V'llamont  liad  sought  to  prevent  tlie  Iro(iiiois  from  making  any 
s«'parate  peace  with  the  French;  l)Ut,  on  Frontenac's  death,  tlio 
cantons  sent  deputies  to  the  St.  bawrence  to  condole  with  the 
colony.  This  was  not,  however,  their  only  care  ;  they  asked  '!i:it 
Father  Ihuyas  should  be  sent  among  tiiem,  and  the  elder  <!«' 
liamberville  be  recalled  from  France  to  resume  his  old  missicjii. 
The  latter  was  deferred  ;  but,  on  the  coming  of  a  new  enih;ts.>.y. 
Father  Bruyas,  with  Joncaire  and  .Maricourt,  active  oflicers  ainl 
jidopted  Iroquois,  set  out  for  Onondaga.  Ib're  they  were  receive  <1 
by  Tegannissoren  with  much  .solemnity,  and  all  terms  having  hct^n 


*  O'Cullagbnn. 


FKENCil   AILSSIONS. 


381 


1m'  inlhtiuitcil 
I :  IVllaiiKMit 
ill  as  i»;(»\t'iiinr 
ousc',  m:nl<'  ii 

llUjrCts  ot"    llu' 

mtLi,  avfiTiiiir 
'///  coim*  iiiio, 
te  parts  ot"  tlir 
t'ninK'iit,*"  the 
1st  of  Novtiu- 
(  public  ]H'a««-, 
hI  liim  ti)  iK'i- 
;1j,  if  retaken. 
30  often  sl)<»\vii 
me  act  thn-at- 
ey  ever  aL^iin 

lie  fiery  zi'alct 
led  it,  an»l  tli<' 
t  at  New  York 

111  making  any 
•'s  deatli,  tli«^ 
Sole  with  ill'' 
ey  asked  'Ii;it 
the  eldtT  <!•' 
old  nris>i(»n. 
new  enihas'^y, 
oflicers  nii<l 
wcrt'  rt'ft'ivnl 
s  liavinn' !"'''» 


arraiiijfed,  peace  was  sicjned  at  Montreal  on  the  8th  of  September, 
ITUU,  bv  dcimties  of  all  the  nations,  bcinir  the  first  written  treaty 
i)f  t'i    French  and  Imlians. 

I'w  carry  out  its  |»r<>visions,  iJiuyas  visited  <  )iu>ndai^a  again  in 
ITUl,  and  havini;  broui^ht  back  the  French  piisoners  there,  a  ik-w 
treaty  was  signed  at  ^biiitival  by  tlu'  French,  Iroijuois,  Ahnakis, 
Ilurous,  Ottawas,  Illinois,  and  AIgon«[uins.  No  mention  uas 
made  of  the  missions  in  this  document;  but  a  deputation  sent  at 
the  request  of  Tegannissoivn,  in  17(»2,  invite<l  the  return  of  the 
iiiissiunaries  to  their  former  posts.  "Fathers  were  a<;cordinglv 
sent  evervwhere,"  savs  Charlevoix,  "and  a  contemporarv  list  num- 
hers  as  Iroquois  missionaries  Father  James  <le  Lamberville,  Julian 
(iarnier,  and  le  Vailhint,  who  renewed  their  labors  among  the 
Onotitlagas  and  Senecas.''*  These  missions  the  cantons  bound 
themselves  to  maintain;  and  though  a  new  ^\ar  Ix.'tween  Fjigland 
and  France  soon  broke  out,  the  missionaries  won  tlu;  cantons,  aiul 
Schuvler  the  Caui^hnawat^as,  to  neutrality,  so  that  New  York  and 
Canada  escaped  all  the  horrors  of  Indian  war. 

The  missions  accordingly  contimied,  but  we  hav«'  no  tidings  of 
thein.  Father  James  d'lleu  and  Father  I'eter  de  Mareiiil  joined 
the  rest,  and  they  labored  on  till  1708,  wiien  th*;  English  finally 
induced  all  but  the  Seuecas  to  tak<;  up  arms.  The  missionaries 
retired  to  Canada.f  ^  Mareuil,  recalled  by  his  Superiors,  but  unabli! 
to  escape,  accepted  Schuyler's  kindly  invitation,  and  retired  to 
Albany.  There,  in  spite  of  the  cruel  ])enal  law,  he  was  welcomed 
as  a  friend,  and,  by  a  resolution  of  the  Assembly,  maintained  at 
the  public  expense.^ 

Mareiiil  ^yas  tlie  l.'ust  Jesuit  missionary  to  the  cantons.  With 
liini  ended  tlie  long  struggle  on  that  soil,  begun  sixty-seven  years 
Ix'fore  by  Jogues  in  his  blood.     Three  times  expidled,  they  had  re- 


*  ratal.  Prov.  Franeiuj  Sue,  Jos.  170;),  t  Paris  Poo. 

I  Journal  N.  Y.  Asftembly,     lie  subsoijuontly  roturiiod  to  l-'raiioo,  and 
^Ued  at  Paris  in  1742.     Charlevoix,  iv.  48. 


382 


AMICKICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


I.    I 


tiirnod  Jigaiii  nnd  nuaiii ;  Imt  now  iiiiahU'  to  coutimu!  the  struffLrlc, 
willidn'w,  to  coiitimn'  at  tlu-ir  l{«'<ltioti<»ii  tlu'  labors  they  woiiM 
fain  liavc  <l«'Vote<l  to  the  still  uiM-onvcrtt'd  t'on'stcrs  of  New  \'ork. 

Krom  tiiiH!  to  time  Inxjuois  woiiM  join  tla*  si'tjciitary  llli^^illll>. 
some  of  liii^li  rank.  Tciijannissorrii,  wliosi*  t'lo(jiH'no(*  cliariiitil 
alike  FreneJj,  Kni^lisli,  and  Indian,  the  iijuiglit  mid  clear-hcadf.l 
clii*'!',  on(^  of  tlie  nohlcst  orators  that  the  country  lia<l  <'V«'r  ]>in- 
dueeil,  eanie  at  last  t<»  »'nil>raee  the  faith  at  Cauijfhnawaiija.  Likr 
(Jaraeontie,  Iw  had  ('\('r  \uvu  tVieiidly  to  the  I'Vi-nidi,  for  he  ci^ilv 
saw  that  tlu-  |»o\vei'  of  reli<;ion  was  ijjn'ater  in  Canada  than  in  N<  \\ 
York.  Warned  <»n('<'  ai^ainst  the  rh-suits,  he  reti>rted — "  W C 
know  that  tlu*  l>laek-i;o\vn  favors  his  nation;  hut  it  is  not  in  our 
j)Ower  to  ehanj^e  our  atfeetion  for  our  lut'tliren.  We  wish  tli.tt 
you  would  l)ury  all  misunderstanding's  eoneeived  on  liis  aceoutit. 
and  we  likewise  wish  that  vou  would  i^ive  less  credit  to  luiii- 
carrieix."  Kn<;lish  writers,  who  witnessed  his  oratory,  coinp.nv'l 
him  to  Cicero,  and  \\w  king  of  Franc*'  had  his  j)ortrait  luiiii,'  up 
in  tlie  ijalleri«'s  «>f  N'ersailles.  Such  were  the  men  whom  ("liii>- 
tianity  won  to  its  bosom.* 

The  lro(juois  of  CauijhnawaQfa  and  the  ^fountain  were  not  neu- 
tral to  New  ICin>land.  Thev  were  eniployed  in  many  incursions, 
and  freijuently  hrouii'ht  in  prisoners  from  the  frontier  towns,  who 
were  adopted  hy  the  tribe.  Even  on  the  declaration  of  j)ea((', 
some  of  these  <lecline<l  to  return,  and  tlu'ir  descendants  arc  -liH 
members  of  the  tribe.  Amonj;  the  most  known  are  the  'rarlull-.^ 
Eunice  ^Villiams.|  Klizabeth  Naim,  and  iu^natiu-*  ilaizenn<'.sj  TIk' 
two  latter  subsequently  married,  and  their  family  lias  ever  .  •ii 
distinmiislied  by  pietv.     The  descendants  of  this  Puritan  faniilv, 


Indians  by  adoption,  liave  given  several  clergymen  and  reliyinii-i 


I 


*  Coition;  Cliurlovoix. 

+  Taken  at  droton,  in  Queen  Anne's  war. 

X  Taken  at  Doertii-Kl,  in  17o;{ ;  Hutchinson,  ii.  139. 

is   Kailloii.  \'ir  ilc  la  M.  l?our^ci\v». 


FKENOll    MISSIONS. 


838 


to  Canarla,  and  almost  in  tluiir  own  day  tlicir  (lancflitcr  Ix'caino 
Sii|)i'rior  of  the  Sistors  (tt'llic  Coiiijfrci^ation. 

Klizahetli,  at  tlu;  time  of  Ikt  captun^  in  17<)J,  was  owly  two 
Years  old,  Ignatins  ton.  l»otii  wwa  ado|>t<'d  l>y  tlio  Indians,  and 
hroiiiilit  up  anioiiii;  tli«'in,  ran-fnily  instrncti'd  l»y  tli(!  niissionarifs 
and  tin;  sisters,  and  after  refusing  to  return  to  iKM-rlit'lt),  on  the 
dose  of  tlie  war,  were  lilterated  at  the  re<juest  of  the  missionnrits, 
whi)  gave  them  a  tract  of  land  at  tlw  lake,  on  which  the  family 
Mill  resides.'* 

When  the  mission  had  heeii  for  alxuit  twmty  years  at  the  Satdt 
ail  Kecollel,  the  want  (jf  hunling-ground,  which  drew  the  Indians 
to  the  main  land,  and  the  great  facility  of  intercourse  with 
Montreal,  induced  a  new  removal.  Tin;  l^ake  of  the  Two  Motm- 
taiiis  seemed  suited  to  their  wants.  'I'he  location  was  aj»)»r»*V('d 
hy  the  government,  which  viewed  the  Indian  village's  as  military 
j>os|s.  This  mission  was  then  composed  of  about  nine  hundred 
souls,  and  could  furnish  one  hundn-d  and  liftv  braves. 

The  sit(^  (>f  the  new  mission  is  a  point  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  just 
at  the  extremity  of  the  islainl  of  Nfontreal,  .wlnre  the  river  widm^ 
into  a  kind  of  lake.  Two  slight  eminences,  which  soon  ohtaiinil 
the  name  of  mountains,  give  it  its  name.  Near  those  the  niission 
was  begun  in  1720.  For  some  time  all  lived  in  bark  cabins,  as 
the  precise  spot  for  the  fort  was  not  fixed  ;  but  it  was  soon  fouiid 
to  be  so  well  suited  to  their  wants,  that  a  Nipissing  and  Alijfon- 
quin  mission,  begun  on  the  Isle  aux  Tourtes  by  the  Sulpitian  Ifeiie 
Charles  de  Breslay,  was  transferred  to  the  sam(^  spot.f 

A  grant  of  the  land  was  made  to  the  SuljMtians  in  I71H  by  tli.- 
king  of  France,  on  condition  of  their  building  a  church  ami  fort, 
but  delays  intervened,  which  for  sonu;  time  ]>revenft'd  ii-^  <'.\.'cu- 
ti"n.  However,  on  the  bisho})'s  visit  in  IT^^O,  fln'v  began  iIk* 
woik,  ami  two  yeai"s  after  erected  a  spacious  <'hm'ch  ami  fort,  with 


*  Vic  do  la  SaMir  Bour;;onys,  ii.  442. 

t  Faillon,  ii.  SCfl  ;  IVtit  UoL'istro  Ao  M.  Viircr,  .MS. 


iiU 


AMKlilOAN    CATHOLIC   iMlSSlONS. 


a  hous<'  tor  the  sisters  about  a  mile  tVoiii  the  old  mission.  I'iioc 
still  n'lnaiii ;  ami  thoiii^ii  the  walls  of  the  tort  have  in  part  t'allni. 
the  chureii  aiul  inission-hoiise  still  stand  between  the  two  villag<>, 
which  tonn  the  two-told  llock  of  the  Sulpitian  uiibsionuries.* 


ciiaj'TKj:  XVII  I. 


.1 


H 


i 


Till-:    llJOliLOIS    MISSION (I'ONC'I.IDKI).) 

The  interval  nf  ((oncc— Dilliciiltits — I'miirratioii — I'trvor  of  the  adoptoil  (*n|itiv(s— 
rifqiiot  at  tlio  Lake  of  tin-  Two  Mdiintains— »Ili.s  lalmrs— Tin-  <)1«1  Frt'iicli  war— I'iciiiict 
pnijcfts  a  iii'W  Ui'ilnctiiiii — 'I'lic  I'rc.M'iitatidii  —  It  is  attai-ki'il — Its  r^^^torali^)ll  -\  i>i[ 
of  tlie  liisliop— r.aiiiicr — l'i<<iiut  in  tlio  cantons— Oocs  to  France  and  retnrns— Tla- 
second  French  war— St.  IJeiris  I'oundeil — Its  orij.'in — lOH'i-ct  of  tht;  Itiss  of  Caiiaiia  (in 
the  inis.»ions— .Mar;;(»n  deTerlaye  and  the  inis>iun  at  tlie  hike — 'I'he  American  llfV^iln- 
tlon — Close  of  the  Presentation  mission — McDonnell  at  St.  IJeds — New  chiin  ii.> 
erected— Mr.  .losipli  .Marconx— Charles  \.  an<l  Pojh'  Leo  XII.  lietiefactor  of  llic 
ini.ssion — Cross  of  Catharine  '!Vhi.'ahkwita— Caii^'hnawa^jra — St.  lleyis — The  1-ake  ot" 
the  Two  Mountains— Uotrospecf. 

TiiK  jieace  of  Utrecht  clo.'^ed  the  cantons  to  the  (,\ntholif  mis- 
sionaries, and  duriiii^  the  ensuing  years,  while  the  war-song  .nni 
the  war-path  were  forgotten,  the  sedentary  missions  ac<[uiiv(l  ;i 
more  settled  condition,  and  the  Catholic  Iro<piois,  undistractt't]  l.y 
the  exciting  scenes  of  border  strife,  devoted  tlienisclves  to  vaiioii- 
branches  of  imhistry.  Their  great  danger  was  indolence  aii<l  ii- 
almo.st  necessary  attendant,  intoxication  and  immoralitv.  riilwi- 
tunatelv,  a  small  bodv  of  soldiers,  stationed  in  tini-;  of  wai'  at  ci'  li 
missictn,  was  kept  up  after  the  peace,  and  corrupted  the  In<li;niN 
in  spite  of  all  the  ctl"<»rts  of  the  missionaries.  In  vain  thev  <l''- 
nounced  the  traflic  in  liipior;  in  vain  they  strove  to  screen  the 


i 


Fnillon,  Vie  do  M.  Bourgcoy;*,  ii.  836. 


FI^ENCH   MISSIONS. 


83;1 


I 


roi 


(UOl!' 


niaiilens  from  the  sotliu^tlons  of  tl»o  <lissoliito  soldifiv, 


( »n  iii<>r«!  tlmii  ono  occa.^^ioii  tlio  cuininaiKl.'Uit  succocdctl  in  liaviug 
ilic  t(H»  taitlif'ul  missionaries  disjdacod,  aii<l  tli<'U  the  uiii^uiflt.'d  In- 
dians jdun^ctl  into  every  excess  presented  to  tlirm.* 

Many  <>t'  tli<'  Indians  lu'ij^an  to  I'orsakc  tlir  villaLjes,  and  a  now 
( ',iiiL,dina\va^'a  viilaL>-(!  tj^rew  up  on  tiie  distant  l»ani<s  of  tlio  Mus- 
i<iiiL:uui,  amid  the  \Vyand(jts,  IK-Iawaics,  anil  Miamis,f  wlieri^ 
nianv,  likf  Loufan's  father,  n-hipscd  into  a  kind  i>f  paganism. 

\\:\  tiie  missions  had  oleams  of  fervor,  and  religion  aii'ain  ijained 
thi;  ascendancy  over  the  liearts  of  tli«i  tribe.  Not  only  the  sons  of 
thr  forests,  hut  tlie  children  of  the  Puritans  of  New  I'^iii^land  clnni^ 
wilii  unwavering  attachment  to  the  missionaries  and  the  ('atholi(; 
t';iitli.  Kunice  Willianjs,  married  to  tho  chieftain  Amhrose,];  visited 
her  native  J>eerfield;  hut  thouirh  daui;ht«*r  of  the  minister  of  tho 
iilMrc,  no  t-ntreatv  could  induce  her  or  Marv  Jlairis  to  foisake  their 
Iiniiaii  ways  or  the  faitii  which  they  liad  embraced.  So,  too,  the 
Tarhells  wt)uld  raud)le  to  (Irotoii,  hut  thoiinli  viewed  with  jealousy 
at  t'aughnawa!jfa,  refused  to  return  to  tlieir  kindred.§ 

Aniontj;  tlu!  missionari«'s  who  directed  these  Reductions,  poveral 
deserve  mention,  l)Ut  especially  the  Sulpitians  de  JVlniout,  who 
closed  his  lal)orious  career  on  the  22d  of  May,  1732,||  and  Francis 
rieniict,  who,  statioiK'd  at  th«^  Lake  of  the  Two  Mountains  in 
1740,  completed  the  fort  of  which  we  have  spoken,  surrounded 


*  ^.aliinde  in  liis  memoir  of  Pieqnct. 

+  Smith's  Journal,  in  Drake's  Iiulian  Captivities,  184. 

:  i.i.  I-."... 

^  lliinsoii,  Lost  Prince,  ISl;  Hutchinson,  Hist.  Massac,  ii. 
Francis  Vaohon  ilc  I'x^lniont,  whose  nurnc  is  inilissoluMy  connccfcil  with 
tlii>  Snl|)itian  mission,  rononncc<l  the  worKl  an<l  its  honors  to  ilevntc  his  for- 
tune ami  toil  to  the  cause  of  the  ludian.  He  was  only  in  <leacon"s  orders 
when  he  arrived,  and  began  a  school  at  tho  Mountain.  After  a  lontf  mis- 
jsiniiary  career,  he  became  Superior  of  tho  Seminary  of  Montreal  in  1090, 
and  coiitiinicd  so  till  his  death,  in  17:V2.  He  wrott-  a  work  fntitlc;d  "  Klorro 
"le  i|!ieltiuos  j»ersoiMies  niortes  en  odeur  de  saintcte  a  Montreal  en  <  ■ana<la,'' 
which  in  still  in  manuscript ;  and  notes  entitled  "  Histoiro  du  Canada,"  pub- 
lished in  tho  Colloetions  of  the  (iuebec  Historical  Society. 


330 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


,5     ,■ 


tlie  villajjfcs  by  i»iilisa»K'^,  ;iii(l  »)U  tin;  saiuly  lu-ij^lit  erc'clt'il  llio 
calvarv  wliicli  is  c-vi'ii  now  a  piln-rimai^f,  woilliv  of  iiK'iitiuii  lor  ii> 
stone  oratories,  wliicli  mark  tlio  stations,  and  the  <'lia)K'l  on  lii' 
sunnuit,  wliicli  terminates  this  Way  of  the  Cross.*  He  did  n.i', 
however,  devote  himself  merely  to  tiie  mateiia!  injprovenieiit  ><{ 
the  place  ;  lu*  lal)<»red  no  less  zealously  to  advance  his  llock  in  tin- 
way  of  Christian  virtue  and  perfeetion. 

The  period  of  peac((  ■was,  however,  drawinj^  to  n  eK)se.  In 
1744  '.var  w.as  auain  declared  between  France  and  Kuirland — tli.- 
"old  French  war"  of  our  colonial  wriN'is.  Ai;ain  the  villa|LC'>  ''" 
sounded  with  the  noise  of  war.  The  vounu:  braves  weie  all  e.iifrr- 
ness  to  show  their  ]>rowess,  and  ]>arties  took  the  field  otieii  ;ir- 
tended  bv  the  missionary  as  chaplain.f  'J'hus  tln-y  wont  as  ( '\ivU- 
tiau  warrioi-s ;  and  an  Knj^lish  captive  has  recorded  his  surpii>e  tn 
find  the  savag«'  f<x^,  into  wliose  hands  he  fell,  kneelinj^,  when  tlir 
fight  was  over,  to  thank  (Jo«l  for  victory — a  moment  when,  in  iiii 
English  camp,  oaths  and  blasphemy  would  alone  have  Imch 
lieard.J 

ricquet  himself  attended  the  warnors  of  liis  flock,  who  scrwd 
under  Marin,  in  his  attack  on  Fort  Edward  in  1*745,  and  .*t)ii>;i- 
rently  on  other  occasions,  down  to  the  peace  of  Aix-la-Chapelle.  in 
1748.  During  the  war  he  ha<l  come  more  in  contact  with  tlic 
Indians  of  the  cantons,  and  found  them  desirous  of  enibracinij 
Christianity.  A  mission  in  New  York  at  any  of  the  Indian  town- 
was  impracticable.  lie  therefore  conceived  the  idea  of  founilinir 
a  new  Iroquois  lieduction  still  further  up  towards  Lake  Ontaiio.  to 
which  the  well-!ittected  in  the  cantons  might  easily  be  drawn. 

His  design  liaving  been  approved  by  th(!  government,  he  "^'t 
out  in  May,  1748,  with  de  la  Jonquiere,  to  select  a  site,  and  liii.illy 
decided  on  a  spot  at  the  mouth  of  the  Soegatzy  or  Oswegatchi*'. 

*  Eiisthnnrs  Narrative,  20S;  Lalando's  Memoir. 

t  Lalaiulc,  Mc'tnoin;  sur  rAblv-  Pio(inot. 

X  Ertstburn's  Nnrrativo,  in  Drake's  Indian  ('aptivity. 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


337 


wliero  Ogdcnshurir  now  stands.  In  this  Ih-anliful  spot,  with  fVrtilo 
litMs,  vniuahlt'  woods,  and  a  d«'t'|>  an<l  spacious  harhor  lH't<)ro  it, 
lie  so<)n,  with  his  Kivnch  and  Indians,  thn-w  up  a  ston'h()Us«^  and 
a  pi(  k<'t-l"ort,  to  which  lie  jLjavo  tlie  name  ol'  Ft)rt  IVoscntation — 
the  ti'stival  of  tho  1  Vescntation  of  the  Hlcsscd  Virufin  Iwini;  th" 
p.itronal  foast  of  St.  Sulpicc.  Ilcie  lie  liopod  sm>n  to  i;ath.  r 
mnucious  converts  from  tho  cantons;  Init  his  ])uildin|i^<  were 
M-arocly  completed,  wlion  lie  w.'is  attacked  in  October,  1740,  l>y  a 
Moliawk  war-party,  who  hurnt  all  to  the  pfround  except  his  house. 
ri('(juet  had  already  expanded  30,000  livres ;  but,  unbroken  by 
iiiisturtune,  he  began  all  anew,  and  soon  repaired  tho  loss.  Once 
cstahlishcd,  th<'  jirogress  of  the  nnssion  was  raj)id.  In  1740,  it 
iniiiiltcred  only  six  families,  the  next  year  it  had  eighty-seven,  and 
in  the  next  three  hundred  and  ninety-six,  comprising  in  all  three 
thousand  souls,  drawn  chiefly  from  Onondaga  and  Cayuga.* 

In  Canada  his  plan  had  at  first  drawn  on  him  a  shower  of  ridi- 
cule; but  on  his  success,  the  lieads  of  the  g<>verninent  visited  a 
post  which  might  be  so  useful  in  the  now  lowering  war.  The 
bishop  of  Quebec  camo  in  May,  1752,  and  after  sj>ending  several 
d.iys  in  instructing  the  neophytes,  baptiz<'d  one  hundred  and 
twenty,  and  confirmed  many.f  So  great  was  tho  inb^rest  then 
taken  in  tho  Presentation  mission,  that  the  ladies  of  Montreal  pre- 
sented to  it  a  splendid  banner,  which  is  still  preserved  at  the  Lake 
of  the  Two  Mountains,  bearing  the  totems  of  the  three  great  Iro- 
quois families  and  their  council-fires,  with  the  monogram  of  (Jiirist, 
luikod  together  according  to  their  own  peculiar  devices. 

Ilis  flock  being  now  so  considerable,  Picquet  drew  up  a  plan  of 
government,  vesting  the  power  in  twelve  chiefs,  who  formed  tho 
Council,  and  who  all  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  France.  ]3y 
the  exertions  of  the  missionary,  the  place  was  well  supplied  with 
horned  cattle,  and  every  means  of  procuring  a  subsist(,'uce. 

*  Lettres  Edif. ;  Doc.  Hist.  i.  559. 

t  Banner  at  the  Lake  of  tho  Two  Movmtaina. 

15 


338 


AMKIUCAN    CATIIOMC    MISSIONS. 


With  tins  siu'ci'.xs  to  cluvr  iiiiii,  in;  visited  tin*  caiitoiis  in  I"')!, 
and  was  ('vorvwlici'o  woll  roecivod.  'I'Im'  l»clt«i'  |Knti<)ti,  Nviio  d*- 
sjKiircd  of  Knixiish  niissioiKuios,  inclined  to  cndH'Mct)  Catiioljcitv 
an<l  till'  Krcncli  cause.  Tiie  Seiiccas  i'specially  showed  a  \\\'<^\ 
<»arnest  desiro  for  the  faitii,  an<i  the  ajjed  chief  I'etit  Saidt,  a  ir;il 
ajiosth',  folKAved  the  Ahbe  ric<|Uet  witii  his  own  faniilv  anti  main 

others.     A  jjeiieral  move  towards  tho  St.  Lawrenco  would  ind 1 

liave  taken  ]»hice,  couKl  France  have  sent  to  those  wild-<  the  dc 
voted  missionaries  of  tlie  precedinu^  centnrv;  but  l'ic((Uet,  full  nt 
zeal  and  abilitv,  was  thwarteil  and  alone,  and  the  Society  of  .)eMi> 
now  sirugLrli'iff  f<^>i'  existence,  had  no  means  of  renewing  her  fornnT 
eft'orls. 

Vet  the  influence  of  one  man,  aided  by  the  reminiscences  of  tin 
old  ]^Ia(dv-gowns,  nearly  drew  the  r!ans  of  tlie  complete  cabin  fnn.: 
the  English  alliance.  Sir  William  Johnson  alone,  by  his  intlueiic.' 
with  the  Mohawk,  was  abl^  to  arrest  this,  but  lie  could  not  destroy 
the  new  mission.  At  a  general  meeting  of  tho  Six  Nations  at 
Onondaga,  in  1753,  ho  called  on  them  to  extinguish  the  tire  at 
Oswegatchie — that  is,  to  break  np  the  mission,  liut  while.  Indian- 
like, they  seemed  to  consent,  they  replied,  by  their  chief  Kedliead 
— "We  do  not  conceive  that  we  did  much  amiss  in  going  thith'  r. 
when  wo  observe  that  you  white  people  pray ;  and  we  have  ik' 
nearer  place  to  learn  to  pray  and  have  our  children  baptized  than 
that.     However,  as  you  insist,  we  will  not  go  that  way."* 

Bicquet  was  tho  last  mis-sionary  who  yisitc<l  tlu^  cantons  from 
Canada.  Two  schemes,  destined  to  triumph,  amuhilated  all  liept"- 
of  extending  the  work  begun  at  Caughnawaga,  A(juasasne,  Caiia- 
sadaga,  and  Soegatzy.  England  pre})ared  for  a  final  etlbrt  to  re- 
duce Canada,  and  the  courts  of  continental  Europe  on  their  side, 
blind  instruments  of  a  rising  spirit  hostile  alike  to  religion  and 
monarchy,  combined  to  crush  the  Society  of  Jesus. 


*  Doc.  Hist.  ii.  688. 


KUKNCll    MI.'?S1()NS. 


ajy 


itoiis  ill  I  751, 
It  ion,  wiio  (li- 
ra ('atli<»li<ily 
ioNv<'(l  ;i  most 
t  Saiilt,  a  H';il 
lilv  and  m.'iiiy 
would  iiidcfil 
>  wilds  till'  dc 
'icijiU't,  full  nt' 
u'iety  of  .Icsus 
iiiii  liei"  foniirr 

iscenccs  of  tho 
ete  caltin  from 
ly  liis  intliu'iicf' 
uld  not  destroy 
pix  Nations  nt 
sli  tlie  fir«'  at 

while,  Indian- 
chiof  Kcdiicad 

o;oini;  tliith' r, 
we  have  no 
)aptized  tiian 


Yet  I'ic»jiU't  did  not  falter.  iJcpairini;  tt»  I'Vatii'"'  in  17.*»3,  with 
three  of  his  tloek,  he  h-ft  M.  I.a  ( Janle  in  ehaiiLfe  of  his  niisHion,  and 
ill  tin-  following;  April  saih-d  for  Canada,  with  two  clfrLjynH'M  to 


aid  him. 

Tilt'  war  hcLjaii  in  ITol;  and  thoui^h  at  lirst  favoraMc  to 
liaiiee,  resulted  at  last  in  the  loss  of  (,'anada.  in  «'V(iy  campaign 
tilt'  Catholic  IroijUois,  althoiioh  their  towns  wi-re  cut  down  in 
IT.").")  almost  to  ono-half  l>y  the  small-pox,*  were  in  the  Held 
sidf  hv  side  with  the  Canadian  and  l''r<.'n»di  soldiei's,  i;cMH'rally  at- 
cndrd,  as  before,  hy  their  niission.aiies  as  »hapl;iins.  'I'hey  lii^nie, 
indeed,  in  every  eno'ai^fement  from  l>raddoek'.s  defeat,  where  they 
pL'ived  a  eotispicuous  part,  down  to  tla;  elos**  of  the  war,  and  were 


nt' 


ver  eharired   with  the  barbarities  which  diso-raeeil   the  wester 


n 


Iii'lians.f 

With  their  bark  canoes,  they  captured  an  Knu^lish  flotilla  on 
b.ike  (ieorn^e;  and  when  an  i'Jii^lish  olUcer  olli'r«'<l  a  reward  for 
the  he.id  of  tht.'  Abbo  I'leipiet,  the  Indians  of  the  JVescntation 
sent  out  a  war-])arty,  which  secretly  made  its  way  to  the  o}>posite 
canij),  and  scizinnf  the  otlicer,  led  him  in  triumph  to  their  iuissi«>n- 


arv,  ( 


)n  whose  noil  his  life  d«'pended.j; 


huriiiii^  this  last  contest  of  the  rival  powers,  the  Jesuits  resolved 
to  tliviile  the  Caui,dinawai;a  mission,  and  remove  some  of  tlu-ir 
flock  further  from  the  daiii^ers  of  Montreal.  Karckowa,  one  of  the 
Tarbells,  liad  long  been  viewed  witli  envy  and  jealousy  by  some  of 
tht^  native  Cauijhnawagas.  After  many  annoyances,  he  an<l  his 
brother,  with  their  families,  resolved  to  remove,  and  headed  the 
l>arty  sent  from  the  mission  of  the  Rapids.  Choosing  Atpiasasne 
— "the  place  where  the  partridge  drums" — a  j)lain  east  of  a  slight 


*  Fiiillon,  Vlo  do  M.  d'Voiivillc,  Ml.  This  niUlior,  ffoncnlly  correct, 
bcro  omits  ttic  Iroqiioin  at  the  Lake,  and  seems  to  make  the  fresontatiou 
ail  Aliroiiquiii  and  Nipissiiig  mission  I 

t  Lalaudc,  Memoiro;  SmitU's  and  I-Jistbiirn's  Niirriitives,  iu  Drako. 

X  Lalande. 


.'MU 


AMKKICAN    (.•ATllol.U"    MI.SSloNS. 


hill,  at  (»n«'  ul"  »••»•  i  •,  sjjot.-*  wIum'c  (lif  iM|»itl-vi'.\tM|  livfi-  ^lido 
(taliiiU  l>v — IIh'V  ;f''.:i  tli'i  inissimi  of  St.  I*raii<is  l{t'«;is,  ;iiii| 
thicw  up  a  loi^-cjilii'i  for  (ho  .h-sjiit  l"ath«'r,  Mark  Aiilh<»ii\  <M)t<|nii. 
who  »c<Miiii|»aiii»'(|  tlicm,  ItcaiitiLj  as  a  pjocious  ticuMHV  pari  otiln- 
ivlic.s  ot' CathaiiiH-  'rtht;alik\\ila.* 

Oil  \\h)  fall  of  (^iK'l>cM',  Mr.  I'ic<|iu'l,  who  had  lu'comc  vi  ly  ol.- 
iioxioiH  to  tho  Kiii'Iish,  h'ft  the  couiitrv — tho  last  «'iitiv  on  lii> 
lii'jLfistcr  iH'arin^'  date  .May  13,  17(50,  oiu'  inoiith  hrtoiv  the  Kii:;- 
lish  took  posH«;ssion  of  thf  fort.f  Ih-  had  for  twelve  years  dir«itf.| 
the  mission  which  he  had  created,  never  havini^  left  it  »'\<:e|»t  diir- 
\\\iX  his  visit  to  France  on  its  iN'half.  His  labors  rank  him  anion^^ 
the  p'oatest  of  our  Indian  missionaries,  an<l  the  Knu'lish  s(»  e>ie. m- 
inif  him,  gave  him  the  name  of  "the  threat  Jesuit  of  the  \\.'«.t."+ 
On  Ills  dej>artur<',  the  mission  u.is  eonlided  to  Mr.  i'eter  I'.iiil  !■, 
de  la  (iarde,  also  c»f  St.  Snlpice  ;  |»ut  the  Indians  were  s(ton  har- 
assed, and  in  the  suhseipient  war,  joininuf  the  Kin,dish,  removed  i^ 
Canada. 

Just  l)eforo  the  peace.  Father  Gordon,  at  St.  K<'u;is,  helu'lil  lii> 
lojr  cha}>el  and  its  contents  destr«>yed  Ky  lire,  but,  in  spite  of  th. 

*  Hon>;li's  Hist.  St.  Liiwrciicc  Co.  ;  Mr.  .Marcoux. 

t  Iloiii^li's  St.  l.awn'iK't',  H7  ;  \'ii,'*T,  .MS. 

X  Lc'tfrcs  YAW.    Sco  Vie  .Ic  Mmo.  trY.mvilli',  p.  '_M^. 

Mr.  Francis  Pioquet  was  l)orM  at  Hourir,  in  lircsso,  on  the  6th  of  Pccom- 
})i'r,  17os.  Eiilerinj,'  tlio  ecolorsiastioal  stato,  ho  t»oon  ^liowoil  frri-at  taliiit« 
for  tiio  pulpit,  and,  complutiii^'  his  liivinity  courso  at  St.  Siilpitr,  i'aris, 
joined  tho  comrrouation.  Sent  to  rainuhi  in  17:'<3,  his  career,  atter  n  lew 
years  spent  at  Montreal,  was  tliat  of  mi  Iroquois  missionary.  Tiio  Kn  iich 
authorities,  both  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  entertained  the  hiirhest  re>pirt  I'-r 
hitn.  His  zeal  made  liiin,  in  the  eyes  of  the  Knu'lish,  a  .Fcsuit ;  .Mniit.Mlni 
called  him  the  Putriareh  of  tho  Six  Notions,  and  tho  cantons  hcstowid  nu 
liim,  as  a  giflt,  the  hauls  aroiiml  Lake  (ianentaa.     After  his  return  to  Kraim. 


ni'i 


he  was  employctl  in  active  duties,  oteenied  alike  l)y  tlu!  (lallican  <'Icr:.'\ 
the  rone.  lie  dic«l  at  Vcrjon  on  the  l.")th  of  .luly,  17^1.  His  iinrtmit  i- 
still  preserved  at  tho  Lake  of  the  Two  Mountains.  A  copy  of  it,  niatli'  i'} 
Duncan,  enriches  the  Canadian  Album  of  the  Hon.  .Jacques  Viifcr,  of  .M  'i- 
real,  who  kindly  permitted  me  to  have  it  cnirraved  for  this  work.  It  wil. 
appear  in  a  subsequent  edition,  as  an  acoideitt  has  prevented  its  conipklion. 


FHKNCII    Ml.SSIUNS. 


341 


(I  rivi'i-  j^lid.s 
jw  lU'i^is,  :iii<l 
tli<»iiy  <M)r«l"ii. 
mv  i»art  <»t'  tin- 

Toino  v«'ry  oK- 
t  nitry  on  lii> 
x'tort'  tilt'  I'iu^'- 
vi-ars  diritticl 
L  it  t'X<:<'|»t  iliir- 
iik  liiiii  .'iMii>ii:_' 

jlisll    so   »>>l«'(  lli- 

of  tin'  \\\'-\:'i 

.  IVtcr  Paul  V. 
wiTc  soon  1 1  .'Ir- 
ish, rcinoW'tl  to 

'tjis,  Ik'Ih'M  lii^ 
ill  spite   ot"  till' 


0  6th  of  Doooin- 

vd  frreat  tali'iits 

Suljiioe,  I'aris, 

reor,  iitU-r  ii  tVw 

The  KiviH'h 

L'hcst  rc^pL'i't  I'lr 

■suit ;  Mniiloaliii 

Ills    ln'StflWfil    oil 

n-tuni  ti>  KniiKT, 
iHk-ati  r\i-rjy  I'-M 
His  jMirtmit  i> 
V  ut'  it.uia.l*'  l>v 
Viirt-T,  ut'  M<  !"t- 
i>  \vori<.  It  will 
,1  its  coniplction. 


flilliculfi*':*  of  tli<»  (inio,  hofjan  n  now  woodon  ohurpli,  wliich  lu» 
MMiM  coMi|)li>t4'i|,  nn<l  coiitiiiiicil  to  ilii'fct  tlit*  ini>sioii  till  liis  dralli, 
III  \  i  I  t. 

All  the  missions,  l>y  tin-  |M'a<'«)  of  ITHM,  lo>f  tlio  annuities 
•.'ranted  l»y  the  Krencli  court,  un<l  were  thrown  ii|Min  their  own 
It-. iiirces.  That  of  tii<'  l.ak<'  owed  its  preservation  mainly  to  tin* 
-generosity  ot'  the  Sulpitian,  Mari;on  de  Teilaye,  who  jUMve  I <),(»(»() 
li\res  to  tiio  sisters,  and  maintained  them  till  his  cimLCreifition 
luiilertook  their  support.  Their  lalxtrs  were  ns  fruitful  as  ever. 
Marv  <ia<;uira<'s,  a  Choctaw,  carried  iier  virtues  and  /eal  to  hero- 
i«jii.  Ilercahiu  was  the  home  of  the  jiew-coiner.  and  herexamj»lo 
;iiid  exii(»rtatioii  won  manv.  Kveu  wlien  dvini;,  she  (|rau:<;ed  her- 
self  t(»  the  i>ed-sid(!  of  a  neophyte,  to  animate  his  piety  by  liur 
liiiriiiiii;  words.'f 

The  /eal  and  charity  of  the  Indians  ;it  these  mis>ions  had  not 
<l«'(Tuied.  \\'hen  the  conllai^ration  <»f  I7(i.")  laid  Montreal  in  ruins, 
:iiii|  left  hundreds  destitute,  the  liiiliaiis  of  ( 'aui,dinawai]fa  and 
('aiiasa<laL;'a  came  t(»  tlu-ir  relict",  selling;  their  silver  <»rnaments, 
their  wampum,  hlankets,  richdiiltcd  knives,  and  other  articles,  to 
raise  n»<^ney  for  the  relii*f  of  the  poor.J 

When  the  American  revolution  broke  out,  the  Catholic  lro(|Uois 
refused  to  take  up  arms  ae;ainst  the  colonists,  as  many  of  tlndr 
oliiefs  and  leadinj;  men  were  natives  or  descendants  of  natives  of 
the  Knglish  provinces.  It  is  not  strange,  then,  that  they  inclined 
to  neutrality,  and  though  urged  and  even  threatened  by  Sir  (Juy 
(arleton,  the  English  governor,  adhered  as  a  body  to  their  ])m- 
pHse,  though  some  actually  joined  the  American  army,  among 
tlieiii  Atiatonharonkweii,  or  Louis  Cuok,  who  ros<!  to  the  rank  of 
captain;  while  Thomas  Williams,  or  Teh<^rakwan«'k<'n,  wli(»  had 
fought  by  his  side  at  Braddoek's  defeat,  now  battled  for  Kngland. 


•  Vigor,  Listo  corrisroc.     The  registers  besin  in  1762. 
t  Vio  do  IiiSd'ur  IJoiirgeovs,  ii.  3^tJ,  4o3. 


t  Vio  do  IiiSd'ur  IJoiirgeovs,  ii.  39tJ,  4o3. 
I   Kuilloii,  Vic,  (If  Mino.  d'Yoiivilfc.  p.  'J22. 


342 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


Tlio  inissionarit'S  took  no  part  in  tho  war,  y<'t  ox|)('rioneod  liaisli 
trcatnit'iil  I'loni  the  Anicricaiis  <luriiiL;  their  invasion  ot' ('aiiada/'- 
Siiicc  the  close  ot"  tln'  American  war,  \\'\\  iii«'i<l*'iits  niaik  tiir 
history  of  these  ^juiet  missions.  That  of  the  rrescntation,  all'  r 
bcinir  rlenioraiized  i»v  a  Uiitisli  !>-airison  stationed  tliere,  was  setllnl 
by  the  Kntrhsh  i;ovei'nnient,  first  at  Johnstown,  then  at  lii(h;iii 
I'oint,  Lisbon,  on  Anu'iican  nioinul.  Here  they  had  a  little  \il- 
lap^o  of  twonty-foiir  families,  which  was  tinally  disj>ersc*<l  ia  Imm; 
and  1807,  and  the  poople  retired  to  r)nonda2:a  and  St.  l{e<,n>.+ 
Those  of  Catiijhnawau^Ji,  Canasa(hiu-a,  and  St.  liegis  still  siil»>i-.t, 
and  have  of  late  years  jvreatly  improved,  liaviiiGj  sliare«l  in  llif 
general  religioiis  progress  of  Canada,  whose  C'hnrch,  so  suddenly 
severed  from  France,  and  harassed  bv  l*J!u:land,  maintained  llir 
some  years  a  doubtfnl  struirgle. 

St.  Kegis,  for  s(»me  time  after  its  founder's  death,  was  d '|inv.'i| 
of  a  resident  missionary,  and  «lej)ende(l  on  visits  I'rom  neighbo'iiiLr 
priests;  but  in  December,  1785,  when  peace  once  mor*;  lefl  all  in 
quiet  on  the  St.  I^awrence,  the  licv.  Koderic  M(d>oiniell,  a  /ealou> 
Scotch  priest,  took  nj*  his  residence  among  the  Indians  of  At|iia- 
sasne,  and  in  1701  erected  the  ]>resent  massive  stone  church,  lli- 
continued  Ids  labors,  undaunted  by  ill-health,  down  to  the  jieriiMl 
of  his  death,  in  180(1. 

llis  almost  innnediate  successor  was  the  lato.Iohn  I»aptist  I{oU]'t'.* 
during  whose  pastorship  wnr  broke  out  betwtvu  the  United  St-itis 
and  England,  and  as  his  tlock  lay  on  both  sides  of  the  line,  he  li.dl 
the  afHiction  of  beholdin<;  them  arraved  in  two  hostile  parties.  \^ 
the  war  advanceil,  his  Indians  were  reduced  to  starvation,  .'iinl 
subsisted  only  on  the  rations  doled  out  to  them  by  the  Ameiicaii 


*  Lottcrs  of  an  Aiuor'n'aii  Farinor;  Aiiicricaii  Arohivcs,  li.  301,  •>44,  Ic"', 
]048;  Joiirn.  I'rov.  ('oml'.  1'51>. 

t  lloiijrli's  St.  Lawrcnoo  Co,  108. 

t  Ho  was  ufti'i-wanls  at  llio  Lake  of  tlio  Two  Moniitainf,  and  <lic«l  at 
Moiitroal  in  Stptoinhiv.  Is.M,  at  tlio  ut,'*'  of  7=5. 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


343 


301,  244,  10i"2, 


comini;*sariat.  In  tlu^s^?  Mr.  lloiipo  shared,  but  was  condemticd  in 
t'aiiada,  and  .scjoii  afl«'r  inado  juisoucr  l»y  tlio  Americans,  who  al- 
tarked  llie  villa'^i*,  and  seized  liiiii  in  Ins  house. 

The  oilier  missions  being  less  exposed,  enjoyed  greater  calm. 
Caii'jfln.awaga,  under  Mr.  Joseph  Marcoux,  advanccnl  rapidly,  and 
i\A  llie  old  church  showed  signs  of  decay,  he  prepared  to  rebuild 
it,  and  a  new  church  was  actually  erected  in  1815. 

I'liese  missions  have  even  attracted  attention  abroad.  In  181*0, 
Joseph  Torakaron,  one  of  the  Tarbclls,  visited  Eur(>[)e,  and  was 
jjivsented  to  Charh'S  X.,  king  of  Kraiice,  and  to  his  Holiness  Tope 
Ia'o  XH.,  who  then  occupie<i  the  See  of  I'eter.  Hoth  received 
uiuM  kindly  the  descendant  of  (he  I 'uritans,  the  «lescendant,  too, 
•  if  the  Iroquois  Catholics,  who  had  never  swervetl  in  their  tid»'lity 
t<»  their  ri'ligion,  nor  indeed  in  their  tidelity  to  France,  so  long  as 
France  wa.s  true  to  herself. 

The  king  U-stowed  on  the  chief  thre«!  paintings  for  the  churches, 
— one  of  St.  Louis,  now  at  C  auglmawaga,  and  the  others  of  St. 
IVaiicis  Xavier  and  St.  Francis  Ivegis,  still  at  St.  Uegis.  His 
Il'»Hiu'ss  added  a  collection  of  books,  a  silver  servictj  "^r  thti  altar, 
and  a  jewelled  rosary.  With  thi'se  valuaide  })rt'sent>  the  chief  re- 
turned to  America  ;  but  at  New  York  was  robbed  by  his  ctun- 
panion  and  interpreter  of  all  but  the  njoney  of  which  he  was  the 
hearer,  and  indeed  of  every  thing  Imt  the  paintings  and  rosary.* 

Besides  tliose  important  epindis  tor  the  mission,  the  year  1843 
witnosf-ed  a  ceremony  of  great  consohition  to  the  Catholic  Iro»jUoi^. 
It  was  the  erection  of  a  nt.'W  cross  over  the  tomb  of  Catharine 
Tehgahkwitn,  The  spot  had  always  b(.'en  marked  by  the  sign  of 
redemption,  and  is  well  located  even  by  deeds  of  property,  uhudi, 
such  was  the  devotion  to  her,  sometimes  made  a  mass  in  her  honor 
a  part  of  the  considoration.f  At  the  period  we  mention,  the  old 
cross  was  mouldering,  and  a  now  one,    .v'cnty-fivo  feet  high,  was 


*  Hough's  St.  Lawrence  Co,  106. 

♦  Pnppr?  in  tho  Xotnrint  of  Lnpriirio. 


3-^-*»»<?j 


844 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


prepared,  in  which  were  enchased  some  relics  of  the  holy  virffin 
of  (.'auufhnawa^a.  On  Sunday,  the  23dolMuly,  1843,  the  ('auiili- 
na\vai;as,  headed  l»y  their  missionary  and  chiefs,  repaired  to  i In- 
little  river  VortaiSQ,  near  which  their  former  church  and  viilau^c 
had  stood,  on  a  bluff  between  that  littU;  stream  and  the  lordly  M. 
Lawrence.  The  space  on  the  left  was  soon  tilled  by  whites,  drawn 
thither  by  interest  or  curiosity,  alike  of  French  and  Kiij^lish  origin. 
The  banner  of  Laprairie  and  the  pennons  of  the  Sault  floated  abov«' 
the  crowd  on  either  side  of  the  hijjfhly  a<lorned  cross,  at  the  foot  i^t' 
which  was  a  ])aintiniif  of  the  (Christian  heroine.  At  the  signal 
given  l)y  tlni  dischaige  of  artillery  on  the  right  and  left,  th(;  cKogv 
in  procession  advanced  into  the  c«'ntre,  chanting  the  '' Vexilla 
Regis.''  At  another  discharge.  Father  Felix  Martin,  one  of  the 
tirst  Jesuits  to  whom  it  was  given  to  return  to  the  land  einiclird 
by  the  sweat  an<l  blood  of  his  society,  rose  to  address  the  as>eni- 
bled  throng  in  French.  Then,  after  a  hymn  in  Irocjuois,  the  Jiiv. 
.Joseph  Marcoux,  the  pastor  of  the  tribe,  pronounced  a  discoui>«; 
in  the  guttural  language  of  his  tlock,  and  gave  j>lace  to  the  IJev. 
Hyacinth  lludon,  Vicar-CJeiieral  of  Montreal,  who  delivered  a 
third  address  in  English,  and  then  performed  the  ceremony  ef 
blessing  the  cross.  That  sign  of  faith  wjus  then  slowly  raised, 
amid  the  chants  of  the  Church,  the  thunder  of  the  cannon,  and 
the  mingled  shouts  of  men  of  many  <'limes  and  races,  who,  ditl»  r- 
ing  in  language,  bowed  to  the  symbol  of  a  common  faith. 

Such  is  the  history  of  the  Inxjuois  mission,  on  which  we  liavc 
dwelt  longer  because  its  aimals  have  reached  us  in  a  'nore  i->n\- 
plete  form,  and  because  r»f  all  tla^  early  missions  it  ])resents  at  this 
day  the  most  numerous  and  thiiving  communities. 

Sault  St.  Louis,  or  Caughnawaga,  formerlv  a  seiirniorv  in  iho 
hands  of  tiie  Jesuits,  now  contains  al)out  twelve  hundred  souls, 
many  of  them  halfbreeds,  some  pure  whites,  taken  captive  loiiii 
years  ago.  'I'hev  support  themselves  by  tillage,  raising  chit'tly 
maize,  by  the  manufactme  of  baskets,  mats,  sleds,  moccasins,  and 


KKKNCH    MISSIONS. 


«j- 


15 


c  lioly  vircfin 
3,  the  Cauyli- 
I  mi  rod  to  the 
li  and  villaiiv 
the  lonlly  St. 
whites,  drawn 
iiighsh  ui'ijLfiii. 

tloated  ahuvo 

at  tile  foot  i)i 
iVt  the  sigiwil 
L'ft,  tht!  cK-rgy 

the  "Vexilla 
n,  one  of  tlio 
hiiid  eiiriolnd 
ss  the  asscin- 
iiois,  the  liL'V. 
L'd  a  discdiUN' 
irn  to  tlie  licv. 
0  dehvert'tl  a 

cereiiioiiy  "t" 

slowly  raised, 
caiiiioii,  and 

,  who,  ditlor- 

faith. 

hich  we  have 
a  Mjoro  fiiii- 

vsciits  at  this 

jiiiory  ill  ihu 
iiudre<l  souls, 
captive  h'lii,' 
lisiini;  eliietly 
ocensins,  and 


other  Indian  articles,  and  l>y  the  ]>il<>ta<re  of  vessels,  and  especially 
of  rat'ts  over  tin*  rapi<ls.  'I'ln-ir  villat^c  i-  irrenfular,  uupaved,  and 
not.  indeed,  v»'ry  tidy;  thoiii^h  some  (tf  the  houses  are  wtdl  huilt 
and  coiiitortaltle.  They  have  a  tine  (diurcdi,  huilt  a  tew  years  :\jfi> 
■  III  the  site  of  a  fornu'r  one;  the  old  jiarsonai^e  still  renniins,  wi'ii 
the  (  hand»er  in  which  ('hailev(»ix  and  Latitau  wrote,  and  maiiv 
lioi'ks  and  manuscripts  of  Bruyas  and  his  comjianioiis.  Tlu'V  havt^ 
also  a  capacious  s(  hool-house,  and  ]>o.ssess,  imleed,  every  advantau;e 
eni<'Ved  hy  the  whites.  The  present  pastor,  tiie  Kev.  »losej)h  Mai- 
foiix.  has  heen  for  forty  years  attai'hed  to  the  Inxpiois  missions,  and, 
since  1819,  stationed  at  Sa»ilt  St.  Louis.  This  loni;  intercourse 
with  the  trihe  has  rendered  him  the  most  thorouo-h  master  of  their 
ianguaufe  that  ever  lived  ;  and  'J'har»>nhiakanere,  mindful  of  his  .suc- 
cessors, has  composed  a  full  and  <dear  lirammar  of  the  lane;ua«jfe, 
and  twi)  dictionaries — one  in  French,  with  ioipiois  interpretation.^; 
the  other  irivinj;  the  French  of  the  Irocpiois  words,  as  well  as  cate- 
chisms and  prayer-hooks.*  'J'hes(^  nolde  works  rank  him  with 
I'haumonot,  liruya.s,  de  Carheil,  ami  Zeisherger,  who  had  ]>reviously 
•  oinposed  similar,  hut  less  complete  works  ou  the  same  lanifuaufo 
«M-  its  dialects.  His  missionary  lahors,  at  first  cliequered  w  ith  much 
opposition  and  ditliculty,  have  succeeded  to  his  wishes,  and  the  peo[>le 
of  his  parish  are  uow  sobei,  iroral,  and  not  ungutteful  for  his  care. 


*  Kuiiitonscra  Jont'^rcnnaientnk;^  n-T'ul.tiuki  ,  .N'ontrcul)  1852 — Jonteri- 
wareustukwa  no  kariwiioat^u  n^eusonthii  M.  1S44.  From  these  •wo  take  tlio 
Lonl's  Prayer  in  the  presrir  i!',aioct,  of  tin  < 'au<flinawafra.s: 

" 'r.ikwniciilia  ne  karonii-..;  e  ^rsiteron,  l.Ksa^'^"lnai('n,  aiesawenniiostnko, 
iiii^awi'imaraUwaki!  i»oii\vtni.-i.  k  'iiniiot  lie  karo.iliiake  licsawiMinarakwa. 
Takwaiiont  ne  ki  nwentc  ial>.  "ir'Jiekon  iiialitowtMiniAeruko  ;  sasanikonrlicn** 
iii'tlii'iinn  i.)nkinikoiiliraksatoii  nonkwo  ;  tosa  aionkwasonui  no  kariwaiieren, 
akwckdu  eren  wawit  ne  iotakscis  etlionaiuwen." 

To  .show  the  changes  it  lia-  situlergone  we  add  two  lines  of  the  Litany  of 
Lnntto  from  a  very  old  mannseript,  and  the  ."orresponding  ones  in  Marcoux. 

Ms.  Dis    no  n'iona  «rarimliia>ro  <  t"  itoron  .Atagwciitenr  senwen. 

M.vucorx— Niio  icsaniiia     karonliiake    e.sih'ron    Takwoulenr. 

-^1'^.  Marie  8;aatato;,'eton  tagMutrenilaJe'ihas. 

M.ARcov.\— bnri      saiatatokenti  taksatereniiiionhas. 

1.^* 


346 


AMKKICAN   CATliOJ.lC   MISSIONS. 


St.  lto:?is,  oi-  Aquasasno,  is  intersected  by  the  New  York  bouii- 
dary-linc,  so  that  part  of  thf  village  is  Anu'ii.-.-ir'  and  jtart  iMitisli — 
an  iiiifbrtunate  division,  which  has  Utii  to  luiicli  dissi*nsioii.  Ut'  tins 
some  of  tlio  Protestant  sects  soon  took  advantai^o.  Lazarns,  or,  a> 
he  is  now  calliMl,  lCI(>azar  Williams,  a  ijjrandson  of  Kuniec,  and  s.»ri 
of  Thomas  Williams,  aft«'r  havinijj  been  ed neat ed  in  New  Eni,d;iiiil. 
H'turned,  as  a  member  of  the  American  Hoard  of  Missions,  to  ( 'anuh- 
na\vai;a  in  1812,  an<l  in  IHIT)  atttMnptcd  to  establish  at  St.  llfi^is 
a  school  and  cIsajK-l  as  an  l'][iis('oj»:d  clcri^yman ;  bnt  tailing-  mi 
both  occasions,  lu'camc  a  missionaiy  anioiiuf  the  <  Jncidas  on  <Mtrn 
IJay.  ( >f  late  ho  claims  to  be  l>>nis  X\'ll.,  kint^of  France,  and  i> 
again  in  ihc  nci^chborhood  of  St.  Itejnris.  Jn  1847,  the  M»'thodi-.t> 
also  bcL'an  a  mission,  an<l  built  a  Hue  chnrch  and  parsonatjc  in  th. 
neiu;hboihood,  but  their  success  is  inconsiderable;  the  ixrejii  ma- 
jority still  adhere  to  the  faith  preached  to  their  fathers  by  .bi'^n.^ 
and  his  successors.  The  whole  villai^e  nund>ers  over  eleven  liiiii- 
dred  souls,  jroverned  on  the  Kiii^lish  side  by  chiefs,  on  tin;  Americaii 
by  trustees.  The  prest-nt  missionary  is  the  liev.  i*'rancis  Marcoux, 
who  has  been  stationed  ;here  since  1832.* 

Canasachiija,  or  tlie  Lake  of  the  'IVo  Mountains,  is,  a.H  we  hav 
seen,  a  double  mission.  From  the  point  Avhere  the  church  stands 
two  villages  run  otf  on  ditl'erent  sides  along  the  shore — the  lro(Hii»i> 
on  the  left,  tlie  Algonquin  on  the  right — as  distinct  in  language  ami 
manners  as  tlieir  ancestoi*s  were  in  the  days  of  Cartier  or  Cliaii' 
plain.  IV'hind  them  rise  the  two  sandy  heights  which  give  nan... 
to  the  mission;  one  of  them  crowned  by  a  calvary,  to  which  yen 
approach  by  a  number  of  stone  chapels,  often  visited  by  piou^  |>ii- 
grims.     The  number  of  Iroquois  at  this  mission  is  about  2dO,  auJ 


I 


*  This  trcntlcnmn  has  been  nmde  the  object  of  most  pcurrilous  attacks  by 
the  hito  Mr.  Hanson  in  h'u>,  "  Lost  Prinei',"  and  it  is  <liio  to  hitn  to  state  ili;i; 
tilt!  aoousations  iirr  loutuU'd  simply  in  prpjiidit'O.  No  less  than  thirty  jK'r>'»ii> 
nt  (Jaiifjhnuwftpa  recollect  Williams  I'rotn  childhood  ;  and  as  Mr.  Lorimicr,  the 
Indian  Agent,  avers,  no  influence  of  Mr.  Marcoux  was  needed  to  make  M:;i.> 
Ann  nay  what  she  has.  ever  said,  except  when  under  the  dictation  of  Kloa/ur 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


347 


their  prosont  ])astor  is  Mr.  Nicholas  I>utVi'Siio.  lU'sidcs  tliis  thore 
Miv  many  C'atliolic  Jr(M|ii()is  in  tin,'  cantons,  ut  Green  iJay,  and  in 
various  western  tribes. 

The  Catholic  IrotjUois,  tlirrelore,  niiniU'r  aboiU  .3000;  tije  rest 
of  the  nation  are  mainly  papins,  with  some  t't-w  rre>ltyti'rians, 
J!|tiscoiialians,  and  Methodists.  Sc^nu*  ( Mieidas  and  <  >n<»nda<^as, 
with  a  considerable  nundn'r  of  Senecas  and  'J'usearonus,  remain  in 
Nfu  York;  tiie  Mojiawks,  ^\ith  many  of  all  th»^  canti»ns,  are  in 
I  |'|M-r  Canada ;  some  <  >n<'idas  in  Wisi-onsin,  some  Senecas  in  In- 
dian Territory. 

When  the  Catholic  missionaries  were  e.\j)ell«*d,  some  etVurt  was 
niiide  l»y  the  authorities  in  New  York  to  co?jvert  the  Mohawks  to 
Aiiirlicanism,  and  manv,  led  bv  Brant,  becuno  members  of  tho 
Church  of  Kngland.  'I'he  Moravian  Zeisberfr,.)-  attempted  in  vain 
a  nii>sion  at  Onondaii'a,  and  I'yrheus  another  at  the  Mohawk. 
The  civili/ed  Oneidas  were  visited  l)y  Xitw  Eni,dand  missionaries, 
.'ind  Were  tinally  jGfained  by  the  .Nb-thodists,  while  some  of  tiie  same 
niU' at  (Jreen  Jiay  are  Kpiscopalians;  missions  of  various  sects 
Were  boijun  among  the  vSenecas  and  Tuscaroras,  but  a  powerful 
party  here  and  at  <  hiondaga  are  still  jiagans,  ami  celebrate  their 
heathen  rites  amid  tlie  citv-stud<led  realm  of  New  York. 

We  have  tlius  brought  down  tlie  history  of  the  Iroquois  mi.ssit*n, 
;uid  the  more  famous  Huron  one,  of  which  it  may  be  considered  a 
lirniif'h.  Coc'vnl  almost  with  the  origin  of  the  <,'anadian  colony, 
tile  work  of  the  inissionnries  still  endure>.  We  have  traced  their 
laboiv  fr()m  tlh;  days  of  Jogues — labors  pui"sued  amid  every  diili- 
eiilty  and  trial,  but  ])ursue(l  with  an  energv  and  zeal  j.lmost  un- 
paralleled. We  have  seen  their  Christian  villages  arise  in  another 
I'liid.  and  piety  and  virtue  tlourish  in  the  deseit:  we  have  seen 
these  villages  for  generations  honor  the  I'aith,  and  protess  it  still, 
■^vhile  the  iiuxsn  of  their  count rvmen  are  vet  i>agans.  Such  is  the 
Iio.niuis  mission  :  we  shall  allude  to  it  again  lis  evangelizing  the 
I  'iieiJic  shores ;  but  liere  we  leave  it  to  take  up  the  western  missions. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

THE    O'n.VWA    MISSION,  OK    MISSIOX    TO    TIIK    ALfJONQlIN    TKIUES 
IN     Mlt'llRJAN    ANIJ    WISCONSIN. 


The  Ottawa  country  — Its  various  trllpc«~Tlu'  Ojlliwas  invito  tlie  niissionarios— .Io;;ius 
ami  Hayinhaut  at  Sauli  St.  Mary"« — Tlu>  fail  oi"  tlio  lluroun— <iarri'au  and  Druilloti's 
hcnt  to  the  West-  Dittat  of  tlic  ini.vsion  -  Dealli  of  (iarrcau  — Mis.-ion  of  Monaril  - 
Ills  liiToisiii — Mis  vii\a;;t'aiiil  its  triai.-i — l^'onudsa  mission  at  CiioKoinii'iron  -  Ills  IuImiis 
and  doatli— FallitT  Claudius  Alloucz— His  «ha|iel  of  tlu-  Holy  <i  host  at  Lai>ointo— lli» 
labors— doiufd  hy  Louis — IJ<  .Mart|Uott»'  -Tluir  lahors -l>al»l(  n  hi-corms  Sii|)erior  of 
the  Ottawa  iMiH»ion — Saul'  St,  M.,ry's  (nundcd— An  Illinois  mission  iirojcctod—Allouc/ 
founds  St.  Francis  .Xavici  s  at  (irecn  I5.ty— 'I'lio  trilics  there  — Druiiletes  in  the  Wist 
— His  labors  at  the  Sault  -Mar<iuelte  l->uni!iSt.  Iiriiali\isat  Mackinaw— Father  Andr.' 
In  the  .\rchi|)elap)— Missio?!  of  <  J  recti  Hay — Nouvel  as  Superior — Labors  of  the  various 
Fathers — Alloiie/.  — Marijuetle,  sueceedeii  by  I'ierson,  i^oes  to  exidoro  tlie  Misbis-ijijii 
— His  obseijuies— Knjalran  in  the  West— Later  labors  and  laborers. 

TiiK  poninsula  lyin^  ItrtwciMi  L-ike  Sii|K'rior  on  the  north  ami 
L;ike  Michiijjan  on  {\\o  cast,  cxtcndinu;  hack  to  the  Mississippi,  \v;is 
in  early  times  the  ia.st  outpost  of  the  Alijfon(|uin  race  in  tlie  West, 
inhahite«l  hy  several  tribes  <>1"  that  t'aiuily,  who  thus  formed  a  har- 
rier to  tlie  I)ahcotas  or  Sioux — a  triht^  of  Tartar  oripn,  who  had 
advanced  eastward  to  the  hanks  of  the  Missis-sippi.  One  1  »aii<ota 
tribe  ha<l,  however,  pushed  furllier  on,  and  settled  on  the  siioren  of 
(fi'cen  Bay,  amid  the  .MijoiKjuins,  who  styled  them  Wimubai^ot'sor 
Salt-water  men,  while  to  the  main  bodv  of  the  Dahcotas  thev  L'nvc 
that  of  Nado-wessiouex  or  Cruel — tlie  same  name,  in  fact,  which 
they  b. 'Stowed  on  the  teriible  litujuois.  The  chief  tribes  of  this 
section  were, '>n  the  north,  the  Ottawas  or  Traders,  the  Outchiboueo 
<>r  Sauteurs,  since  called  Chijt))eways  and  Ojibways,  the  Menoino- 
nees  or  Wild-rice  trilie,  the  Siikys,  tho  Outai^ainies  or  Foxes,  tiie 
Mascouttns  or  Fire-Nation,  the  Kika})00s,  and,  towards  the  south, 
the  Miamis  and  Illinois  or  lUiniwek. 


■..^u. 


KHKNCH    MISSIONS. 


349 


riN    TKIIIKS 


I  railing  as  tlu?y»li(l  with  tlir  J  Iur(>iis,tlu'«»  trilM'"*  woiv  srM)ii  known 
to  till)  Fivncli,  ami  tlu-ir  rojinti y  w.'is  visit»'('  .  ii  v:\v\y  day  by 
Nicolff,  one  ((filic  liaitlit'st  |»i(>n»vrs  ot"  (;ivili/ation  in  tlif  annals  of 
Niw  I'laiict'.  'i't-n  years  sjx'iit  in  AlLromiMin  <  aliins  on  tin'  hanks 
<>t'  Lakf  N'ijtissinir  ami  tlu-  Ottawa,  tilttMl  hiiii  t<»  tra\»'i><'  in  safety 
tin-  va>t  leufions  where  that  lani;uaii;e  |irevaile<l.  Several  \fars 
jirior  to  his  death,  which  took  jtlaee  in  104*2,  while  en!4;a<»ed  in  a 
work  ot'<'harity,  Nicolet  set  out  tVoin  the  lluioti  'oimtry,  and,  alter 
a  V(»yaufo  of  three  hundred  leai;ues,  visited  the  '•  Sea-trihe,"  nn- 
ilntihtedly  the  Winnehafi^oes  on  (rreiMi  Hay,  with  whom,  in  the 
name  of  France,  lio  concluded  a  treatv  in  an  assenihlv  of  four  or 
live  thousand  men.* 

Tliore  was  noae  to  follow  him  to  that  wild  West  till  U)4I, 
when  a  great  "feast  of  the  dead,"  tjfiven  hy  the  AlufoiKjuins  in 
llmuiiia,  gathered  there  all  the  kiinlivd  trilies  to  take  )»art  in  the 
tuneieal  games,  the  dances,  chants,  and  m(»urnful  proi-essions  of 
thos<' decennial  rites.  Among  the  rest  came  the  ('hijvpewas  from 
llie  Uapids,  which  close  to  the  ve>sels  of  man  the  entrance  of  t!u? 
vast  upj>er  lake.  These  dej)uties,  lik<'  the  rest,  were  visite«l  by  the 
Jesuit  missionaries,  ami  so  won  were  the  good  Chippeways  by  the 
gentle,  self-devoting  ways  of  those  herahls  of  the  cross,  that  they 
earnestly  invited  them  to  their  cabins  at  the  Falls,  |)oilraying 
will)  all  the  lively  imagination  of  tin;  child  of  iln^  forests  the 
riches  and  plenty  that  reigned  in  their  sylvan  abodes.  Ever  eager 
to  extend  their  sj»i ritual  eoncjuests,  to  erdarge  the  bounds  of  tree- 
doin  in  this  westerfi  world  (for  there  alone  is  liberty  wher»-  dwells 
the  spirit  of  the  Lord),  the  missionaries  joyously  a<*ee])ted  the  in- 
vitation of  the  Chippeways. 

Hy  command  of  their  Superior,  two  missioiuiries.  Father  ('harles 
Rayinbatit,  thoroughly  versed  in  the  Algonijuin  cusl(»ms  an<l  lan- 
iruage,  with  Father  Isjiac  Jogues,  no  less  complete  a  Huron,  «ere 


*  r.el,  ir,42.  p.  8. 


850 


AMMHCAN    CAIllohlC    MISSIONS. 


(Irlaclicil  to  \isit  tliciii.  <  >ii  tii(>  17tli  ot'.luiK'  tlu'V  lauiiclKMi  tinir 
(•im<M*s  at  tim  iiiissiuii-lioux'  ot'  St.  .\larv*>,  ami  li»r  m*v»miI«tii  iI.iv* 
advanced  over  tin-  crystal  waters^)!' tin-  iiilaiMl  .s-a,  ;tiiii»l  tlic  Im-.-ui- 
tiliil  i>laii»ls  wliicli  htn-tcli  at-ioss  tli'  lake,  clustciiiii;  aiouml  tin- 
laki'-u;fiiiiiit<l  Maiiitoiiliiic,  so  liall' v.>.l  to  tlic  IiKliaiTs  iiiinil. 
Wlu'ii  tlicy  n-aclu'd  tin-  lalls,  tiicy  louml  two  tlioiisaiid  Iiidi.iu- 
a>s»'inlilfd  tli« ic,  and  amid  tlnir  joyt'ul  uitctiiiu's,  tln'  iiiissioiiaii(> 
ina/«'d  witli  dt'liij^lit  on  the  va.-t  lifld  \vlii«di  lay  lirt'oi*'  tln'in.  'Ili.\ 
iu-ard  of  tiilx'  athT  tfilu-  whirli  lay  ai»»iiiid,  and  over  and  anon  «\' 
tli»'  tniihK;  Nado\v«'>si  who  dwtlt  on  tin-  o-i,>at  river  of  the  \\\>t. 
KariM'stly  did  the  Chipjicways  jnoss  the  two  Fathcis  to  stay  in 
ihoir  midst.  '*  Wf  will  .'mhrar.'  you,"  said  tlu*y,  "  as  L)iotlni>; 
we  shall  (h'livc  jnotit  from  your  w< mis ;''  but  it  couhl  not  he  mi. 
Tho  ))aucily  of  missionaries  in  the  Huron  <  ountry  did  not  v<i 
]u'i'mit  the  cstaMishmcnt  of  that  distant  mission,  liaymbaui  aiiil 
.)t>!XUos  could  hut  plant  the  cross  to  mark  the  limit  of  their  spirit- 
ual proufre.ss;  yet  they  turned  it  to  the  south,  for  thither  now  tlitir 
hopes  Ix-i^an  to  tend.*  After  a  short  stay  they  returned  to  st. 
MaryX  Jiiid  hopes  were  entertained  of  .sof>n  estahlishini^  a  mi»iiiii 
"^  on  Lake  Superior;  hut  liaymbaut  shortly  after  fell  a  victim  to  the 
Olimate,  while  .loi;ues  iKUfan  in  his  own  person  a  lonjif  career  of 
martyrdom,  jtreludinG;  the  ruin  of  the  llmon  mission,  the  death  v\ 
its  apostles,  and  the  destruction  of  the  tribe. 

Hy  1050,  rppcr  Canada  was  a  desert,  and  the  missionaries 
thinned  in  numbers,  turne<l  to  nearer  (iehb,  and  even  tried  to  leinl 
the  hautflity  Iit)»|Uois,  and  bow  hi>  neck  to  the  cros.s. 

The  West,  however,  was  not  t'orirottcn.  In  U»o6,  a  flotill;i  "t 
Ottawas  a]>pearetl  <tn  the  St.  Lawi-enc.  led  by  two  adventui<iii> 
traders  who  had  two  vears  previously  struck  into  the  far  \\  e-t. 
These  Indians  aske«l  a  French  alliance  and  missionaries,  both  «'t 
which  Were  readilv  ujranted.     Two  Jesuit  Fathers  were  selectod 


Kei.  I«i42,  p.  IG/S. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


351 


to  accojtipaiiy  tlioiu,  with  a  considerable  nuinlu'i*  of  Frmclinion, 
iiit«Mi<k'(l  to  form  a  coiiniH'icial  fstaMishiiH'iit  in  tli«.'  West.  I)is- 
i.Mist»Ml  witli  till!  lu'.'tality  and  lH»L'«lK'ssness  of  the  <  Htawas,  the 
Kiviiclnncn,  on  reacliini»'  Tliivi'  Itivors,  resolvi'd  to  almiidon  tin* 
midfrtaJNin^;  imt  tin-  two  inissionarics,  Fatiu'is  I.<'«jnard  (ianvau 
and  (Jabrici  I)iniil«'t('s,*  nndisniayed  l>y  the  daiiLTtT,  still  k«'|it  on 
tlieir  wav.  As  the  Krench  had  foreseen,  the  tlotilla  was  attacdvi'd 
hv  an  Inxjnois  war-party,  ]H)st«'d  in  andjnsh.  At  the  fust  v«illt  y, 
the  wnerous  (iarreau  was  niortallv  wonnde<l,  and,  abandoned  bv 
the  Ottawas,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  who,  tearin<»'  otf  Ins 
clotliinir,  left  him  welteririir  in  his  blood  in  a  fort  which  thev  had 
thrown  n|>  on  the  end  of  the  island  of  Montreal.  Vet  after  several 
(lavs,  fcariiiiif  the  vengeance  of  the  French,  they  carri<'d  hint  to 
Montreal,  where  he  soon  after  expired.  I>rnilletes  meanwhile  had 
hoen  left  by  the  Ottawas  in  another  fort,  which  they  threw  np, 
hut  finally  abandoned,  refnsiiijnr  to  takt;  the  missionary  with  them.f 
Thus  failed  tin*  secoiul  projected  mission  in  the  West,  battled  like 
the  first  by  the  cruelty  of  the  ]ro<(U  lis. 

In  1000,  another  tlotilla  descended;  the  result  of  tlu?  enterprise 
of  French  voyacfers,  who  now  KmI  to  the  tradinif-posts  of  Fianco 
sixlv  canoes  loaded  with   n«'ltrv,  and  manne<l  bv  three   hundred 

>  i  ft  ft 

western  Alp^oncpiins.  These,  too,  asked  an  alliance  and  Hla(!k- 
gowns  to  teach  them  to  pray.  At  (his  epoch  the  missions  had 
received  u  new  imjuilse  from  the  zeal  and  de^'ot«'dness  of  the  tlrst 
hisliop  of  Quebec,  who  found  a  kindred  spirit  in  the  veteran 
I'ather  .ferome  Lalemant,  then  Superior  of  th<'  Jesuits  in  Canrda, 
a  man  full  of  enerijv  and  zeal.     <dadlv  would  he  have  ofone  him- 

~  f  ft  '^ 

M'lf  tf>  the  ui>per  lakes,  to  which,  as  Superior  of  the  Huron  mis- 
sion, he  had  sent  Jojjues  and  iiavmbaut  nearlv  twentv  vears  i)e- 
f'Te.     His  duties,  however,  de-tained  him  at  l^uebec.     There  was 


*  In  tlio  Ahniiki  mission,  we  liavo  {jivcii  tlio  iiaiiie  Druillcttcs ;  ii\  luct,  lies 
wrote  it  both  \va\>,  but  iiktc  commoiilv  as  now  given. 

*  Kel.  1655-6.' 


;i52 


AMSCIUCAN   CATIIOLK^   MISSIONS. 


Mill,  liowt'Vcr,  jmotluT  survivor  of  tli«*  oM  Huron  luissiuus.  loin^r 
yoMi's  Ix't'orc  tin'  (oiiir.'Klc  iiini  t'»'llo\v-lal»ort'r  of"  .Inj^ju's,  Ifrcxsmi. 
r>r<'l»«'iit',  (ilariiii'r,  <i;»rr«'au,  and  others,  who  iiad  already  won  ,1 
martyr's  (Mown  amid  their  apostolic  toil.  His  head  was  whilen<il 
with  vears,  his  face  s<'arred  with  wounds  rec«'ived  in  th(>  streets  of 
('ayuf^a,  tor  he  had  '  vn  on*;  ot'  the  first  to  hear  the  faith  iiU'. 
<'entral  New  York.  TlioroUirhly  inured  to  Indian  lilf,  with  manv 
a  diale(;t  of  Huron  and  AI^oikjuiii  at  hits  command,  Keno  Men.-tiij 
soui^ht  to  die  as  his  earlier  friends  and  comrades  ha<l  lotiij  siinc 
<lone.  The  West  seemed  a  pronnsed  land,  to  lie  reached  only 
through  the  Ked  Sea  of  his  own  blood,  and  with  joy  ho  receisid 
tlie  order  to  begin  his  march  into  the  wihh'rness.  We  havo  still 
extant  a  letter  written  by  him  in  Auiju  f,  1  <>()(»,  on  leaving  Thr.v 
Jiivers,  replete;  with  a  spirit  of  sacrifice,  which  can  scarci;  find  ,1 
parallel.  He  went  destitute  and  alone,  broken  with  age  and  toil. 
but  with  a  life  which  he  saw  could  last  oidv  a  few  months;  yet  lu' 
liad  no  thought  of  recoiling:  it  was  the  work  of  Trovidence  ;  aii'l 
in  utter  want  of  all  the  necessaries  of  life,  he  exclaims:  *' He  wlin 
feeds  the  voun«;  raven  and  clothes  the  lilv  of  the  field,  will  t.ikf 
care  of  his  servants;  and  sliould  we  at  last  die  of  niiserv,  how 
great  our  happiness  would  be!"* 

There  is  something  grand  and  sublime  in  tlie  lieroism  of  then' 
early  missionaries,  which  rises  as  wo  contemplate  it ;  and  few  will 
win  our  admiratiori  more  than  Menard,  a  ma!i  devoid  of  enthusi- 
asm, whose  letters  are  as  cabn  and  unimpassioned  as  those  of  a 
commercial  house,  yet  one  who,  in  liis  vocation  and  in  the  ap- 
pointment of  his  Superiors,  saw  the  will  of  God,  and  did  it  man- 
fully. 

Soon  after  leaving  Tlu'eo  Rivers  he  met  Bishop  Laval.  "  Every 
consideration,  Father,"  said  the  pious  prelate,  "  would  seem  to  re- 
quire you  to  remain  here ;  but  God,  stronger  than  all,  will  havi.' 


*  Rol.  1659-60.  p.  152. 


FHKNCll    MISSIONS. 


ar)8 


vou  tli«»ro,"  and  lio  pointed  to  tho  distnrit  \V«'st.*  Kiicour:iijt(l 
.(iitl  Ihii-iio  u|i  still  iiioif  Ity  this,  t'lill  of  u  «.l«'sii'u  of  MitVi'iiiii;.  Ii«- 
titi.illy  NtMitfd  iVdin  Mniitifal,  tlio  fnditirr  |>«»st.  In  sj»it»'  i>\'  tlu'ir 
|tiMniises  of  p>u<I  treatment,  tlio  (Mtawas  <iiim)>«>II«>i1  the  au-ed 
|irir>t  to  paddlo  tVniii  ntorninijf  to  nii^Hil,  to  lielp  tlieiii  at  the  niaiiv 
linitaijes — in  a  word,  t()  take  on  iiini  all  tlu'ii-  tliinli^.-iy.  The 
llinmellt.H  he  conld  steal  to  s;iy  hi>  i>Hiee  di^|•lea^e^l  iheiii;  thev 
ihniir  his  hrc'viarv  into  the  N\at«'r;  and  at.  last,  ins4'nsil)lL'  to  i»iiv, 
It't't  liini  on  the  shore  withont  lood  or  protection.  iMuini;  tli«* 
wliujc  voy;i;j;e,  Menard  had,  lik»!  the  re>t,  sntfered  fxieatly  from 
tiinmn'.     Herries  were  tlu-ir  chief  food;  and  iioppy  )i"  >vln)  t'oinul 


some  cili 


hi' 


111. 


IlUH»» 


and  ha]>pier  ho  >vho  iiad  in  his  cK»thin<^  a  piece 
ij.  lie  ha<l  borno  all  patiently;  l»iit  now,  harefoot 
aiitl  woniuled  hv  the  sharp  stones,  he  stands  at  last  on  the  shore 
of  Lake  Superior,  abandoned  to  starvation.  After  a  lew  days, 
*luriii<;  which  lu^  lived  on  juMmded  hones  and  sm  h  other  objects 
as  he  could  find,  his  faithless  conductors  relentinLf,  r«'turned,  and 


riMiv 


wed  him  to  the  rendezvous  of  the  tribe,  a  bav  which  1 


le 


reached  on  St.  Theresa's-dav,  and  named  after  hei'.  "  Here,"  savs 
111',  "1  had  the  consolation  of  sayini;  mass,  which  re])aid  me  with 
usury  for  all  my  past  hardshij)s.  Here  I  bepan  a  mission,  com- 
jMised  of  a  tUin/<  ehurch  of  Christian  Indians  from  the  neit;hbor- 
li'MMJ  of  the  settlements,  and  of  such  as  God's  mercy  has  gathered 
in  here." 

This  first  mission  in  {Iw.  West  was  situated,  as  the  date  of  his 
K'tter  tells  us,  one  hundred  leagues  west  of  Sault  St.  Mary's;  in  all 
I'lohability  at  Knoweonaw.  Without  waiting  to  repose,  he  began 
his  ministry  among  the  few  Christians  there,  and  sought  out  tin; 
iitHicted  and  miserable.  "One  of  my  tirst  visits,"  says  he,  "  was  in 
a  wretched  hut  dug  out  under  a  large  rotten  tree,  which  shielded 
it  oil  one  side,  and  supported  by  some  fir-branches,  which  sheltered 


*  Kd.  lGO.3-4.  ch.  viii. 


^a>  -^% 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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vi 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WF  T  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  146110 

(716)  872-4503 


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354 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


i| 


y  jh 


it  against  the  wind.  I  entered  on  tlie  other  side  almost  flat  on  iny 
face,  but  creepiii!^  in  I  found  a  treasuie,  a  poor  woman,  abandoned 
by  lier  husband  and  by  her  daughter,  who  had  left  her  two  dying 
children,  one  about  two,  and  the  other  about  three  years  old.  I  spoke 
of  the  faith  to  this  poor  afflicted  cre.'iture,  who  listened  to  me  with 
pleasure."  "  Brother,"  said  she,  "  I  know  well  that  our  folks  reject 
thy  words ;  but,  for  my  part,  I  like  them  well ;  what  thou  sayest 
is  full  of  consolation."  With  these  words  she  drew  from  under  the 
tree  a  piece  of  dry  fish,  which,  so  to  say,  she  took  from  her  ^  ery 
mouth  to  repay  my  visit.  I  thanked  her,  however,  valuing  more 
the  happy  occasion  which  God  gave  me  of  securing  the  salvation 
of  these  two  children,  by  conferring  on  them  holy  baptism.  I  re- 
turned some  time  after  to  this  good  creature,  and  found  her  full  of 
resolution  to  serve  God ;  and,  in  fact,  from  that  time,  she  began  to 
come  to  morning  and  evening  prayers  so  constantly  that  she  did 
not  fail  once,  however  busied  or  engaged  in  gaining  her  scanty 
livelihood.  Soon  after  thus  beginning  his  distant  and  laborious 
mission,  Le  Brochet,  a  chief,  who  had  especially  ill-treated  him  on 
the  way,  drove  him  out  of  his  cabin ;  and  Menard  had  no  refuge 
but  "  a  kind  of  little  hermitage,  a  cabin  built  of  fir-branches,  piled 
on  one  another,  not  so  much,"  says  he,  "  to  shield  me  from  the 
rigor  of  the  season,  as  to  correct  my  imagination,  and  persuade  nie 
that  I  was  sheltered."  Such  was  the  winter  residence  of  an  aged 
and  enfeebled  man.  Consolations  were  not  wanting.  A  pure  and 
noble  young  man,  who,  amid  the  vice  and  debauchery  of  his  na- 
tion, had  always  been  regarded  rather  as  a  spirit  than  a  being  of 
flesh  and  blood,  came  to  be  instructed.  Heroically  he  embraced, 
heroically  he  professed  the  faith  of  the  cross.  His  widowed  sister 
and  her  children,  and  some  few  others,  were  soon  added  to  Me- 
nard's flock,  but  the  missionary's  progress  was  slow.  He  had,  how- 
ever, no  idea  of  abandoning  his  post.  "  I  would  have  to  do  myself 
great  violence,"  says  he,  "  to  come  down  from  the  cross,  which  God 
has  prepared  for  me,  in  this  extremity  of  the  world  in  my  old  days."' 


FKENCH  MISSIONS. 


355 


"  T  know  not  the  nature  of  the  nails  wliich  fasten  me  to  this  ado- 
rable wood;  but  tlie  mere  thousrht  that  any  one  shouM  come  to 
take  me  down  makes  me  shudder,  an<l  I  often  start  up  from  my 
slumbers,  imagining  tliat  there  is  no  Ottawa  land  for  me,  and  that 
my  sins  send  me  back  to  the  spot  from  wliich  the  mercy  of  my 
God  had  by  so  signal  a  favor  once  drawn  me."  His  letter  of  July, 
1601,  announces  his  desire,  or  rather  liis  resolution,  to  attempt  a 
journey  of  two  or  three  hundred  leagues  over  a  land  intersected  by 
lakes  and  marshes,  in  order  to  announce  the  gospel  to  four  popu- 
lous nations,  doubtless  the  Dahcotas,  of  whom  he  had  heard. 

The  project,  however,  he  never  realized ;  another  field  opened 
before  him.  It  had  nothing  grand  or  sublime  in  its  novelty  or  the 
power  of  the  nation,  it  was  beset  w  ith  difHculty  and  danger,  but  it 
was  one  which  an  old  Huron  missionary  could  not  think  of  re- 
fusing. A  party  of  the  unfortunate  Wyandots  had,  as  we  have  seen, 
tlt'd  to  the  upper  lake,  and,  at  this  moment,  lay  on  or  near  the 
Xoquet  Islands,  in  the  mouth  of  (Jreen  Bay.  Long  destitute  of  a 
pastor,  the  Christians  were  fast  relapsing  into  pagan  habits ;  but, 
stili  clinging  to  the  faith,  they  sent  to  implore  Menard  to  visit  them. 
The  missionary  firet  sent  some  of  his  French  companions  to  ex- 
plore the  way.  They  descended  a  rapid  river,  and  after  countless 
rapids,  portages,  and  precipices,  reached  the  village,  which  was  in- 
habited by  a  few  wretched  Hurons,  mere  living  skeletons.  Con- 
vinced of  the  impossibility  of  Menard's  reaching  it,  or  remaining 
if  he  did,  they  returned,  encountering  still  greater  difficulty  in 
ascending  the  river.  On  arriving  at  the  mission  in  June,  1001, 
they  implored  the  aged  missionary  not  to  attempt  a  journey  so 
evidently  beyond  his  strength.  All  the  French  joined  their  en- 
treaties to  those  who  spoke  from  expeiience,  but  in  vain.  Speak- 
ing of  his  Sioux  mission  he  had  said :  "  I  hope  to  die  on  the  way." 
No  fear  of  death  then  could  deter  him  from  answering  a  call  of 
duty.  His  faiihful  companion,  the  Donne,  John  Guerin,  spoke  in 
the  spirit  of  the  cross,  and,  reminding  him  of  St.  Francis  Xavier, 


h 


366 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


H 


*■■ 


!  f 


expinng  at  the  very'  thrcsliold  of  the  Celestial  Empire,  induced  h 
to  attempt  tlie  voyage,  even  if  lie,  too,  should  perish  ere  he  reached 
the  scene  of  labor.  "God  calls  me  thither;  I  must  go,  if  it  cost 
me  my  life:  I  cannot  sutler  souls  to  perish  under  the  pretext  of 
saving  the  bodily  life  of  a  wretched  old  man  like  myself.  AVhat  I 
are  we  to  serve  God  only  when  there  is  nothing  to  suffer  and  no 
risk  of  life  ?" 

lie  set  out  with  some  Ilurons  whom  accident  had  brought  to 
the  mission;  but,  on  reaching  a  lake,  they  left  him.  After  waitiiii,' 
here  a  month  for  their  return,  he  and  Guerin  proceeded  ;  but,  on 
the  10th  of  August,  the  poor  Father,  following  his  companion  at 
the  last  portage  on  the  rivei",  mistook  one  wood  for  another,  and 
was  lost  or  seized  by  some  band  of  Indians.  Guerin  having  ac- 
complished the  portage,  sought  him,  but  in  vain ;  hurrying  on  to 
the  Huron  village,  lie,  by  signs,  at  hist  procured  assistance ;  but  no 
trace  of  the  missionarv  could  be  found.  Lonij  after  his  bas;  wms 
found  in  the  hands  of  an  Fiidian,  who  refused  to  tell  where  he  ]i;id 
got  it,  and  some  of  his  chapel-service  was  subsequently  seen  in  sx 
lodge.*  He  was  probably  nuu'dered  on  the  first  rapid  of  the  Mo- 
uomonee,  closing  a  long  life  of  assiduous  toil  in  the  missions  of 
America  by  a  death  glorious  in  the  sight  of  lieaven,  although  thcio 
was  none  to  chronicle  his  suti'erings  and  his  constancy  in  death.f 


*  Perrot,  Moeurs  et  Coutumes  des  Sauvagcs,  MS. 

t  Father  Keni'i  Menard,  born  in  1G04,  had  been  in  France  confessor  to 
Madame  Daillebout,  one  of  tlic  founders  of  Montreal ;  but  of  his  previous 
history  wo  know  nothinjf.  lie  came  to  Canada  in  the  Esporance,  whioii 
sailed  from  Dieppe  on  the  26th  of  March,  1G40,  and,  after  being  compullod  to 
put  back  by  storms,  reached  Quebec  in  July.  After  being  director  of  the 
Ursulines,  he  was  sent  to  the  Huron  country,  and  succeeded  Raymbant  as 
miissionary  of  tiie  Algonquins,  Nipissings,  and  Atontratas.  On  the  full  of  tlie 
Hurous  lie  was  stationed  at  Three  Rivers  till  he  was  sent  to  Onondaga,  as  we 
have  narrated  in  the  Iroquois  mission.  After  the  close  of  St.  Mary's  of  Ga- 
ncntaa  he  was  again  at  Three  Rivers  till  the  period  of  his  departure  for  tlio 
West.  lie  died  about  tlie  10th  of  August,  1601,  being  57  years  of  ago.  His 
constitution  was  weak  and  delicate,  but  his  courage  bouudless.  His  fervent 
piety  made  lum  in  nil  adversities  and  hardships  consider  only  the  glory  of 


FKENCIJ    MISSIONS. 


re,  induced  h 
ore  he  reaelud 

■>t  go,  if  it  co< 
the  pretext  of 

nyself.     AVliatl 

;o  siiifer  and  no 

liad  brought  to 
.  After  waitini,^ 
;eeded ;  but,  on 
is  companion  at 
for  another,  and 
orin  having  ac- 

hunying  on  to 
distance ;  but  no 
fter  his  bag  was 
U  where  he  had 
uentlv  seen  in  a 
apid  of  the  Me- 

the  missions  of 
,  although  tliore 
ncy  in  death.f 


mce  confessor  to 
It  of  his  previous 
Esporance,  wliioli 
eing  conipellctl  to 
S  director  of  tiic 
ded  Raymbant  as 
On  the  fall  of  the 
Onondaga,  a^  we 
St.  Mary's  of  (^a- 
departure  for  tlio 
years  of  age.  His 
less.  His  fervent 
onlv  the  glory  of 


With  the  death  of  Menard  closed  the  tirst  Ottawa  mission.  At 
that  moment  there  was  not  a  missionary  station  nearer  than  Mont- 
real, and  indeed  his  post  was  almost  as  near  to  the  Spanish  mis- 
sions of  Santa  V6  or  Alachua  as  it  was  to  Montreal ;  yet,  regardless 
of  all,  he  had  fearlessly  penetrated  to  that  distant  spot. 

The  Jesuits  had  faced  death  and  difticulty  in  every  shape ;  mis- 
sion after  mission  had  been  ruined,  and  the  ablest  men  of  the  order 
ruthlessly  butchered.  But,  says  the  Protestant  Bancroft,  "  it  may 
be  asked  if  these  massacres  quenched  enthusiasm.  I  answer  that 
the  Jesuits  never  receded  one  foot ;  but,  as  in  a  brave  army,  new 
troops  press  forward  to  fill  the  places  of  the  fallen,  there  was  never 
wanting  heroism  and  enterprise  in  behalf  of  the  cross  under  French 
dominion."  At  the  present  moment  they  were  true  to  their  spirit ; 
no  idea  of  abandoning  the  Ottawa  mission  seems  to  have  entered 
their  minds.  The  Supeiiors  needed  only  a  man  fitted  for  the  vjist 
field.  One  soon  arrived.  Claudius  Allouez  had  long  sought  the 
Canada  mission,  not  buoyed  up  by  any  false  enthusiasm,  founded 
on  an  ignorance  of  the  real  state  of  the  Indians,  but  conscious  of 
the  difficulty,  and  ready  to  meet  it.*  Ilim  the  Superior  of  the 
mission  now  selected,  and  he  soon  prepared  to  face  all  the  dangers 
of  the  long  and  perilous  route,  to  meet  hunger,  nakedness,  cold,  and 
cruelty,  to  win  the  West  to  Catholicity.  In  1664  he  was  at  Mont- 
real, too  late  however  to  embark,  as  the  Ottawa  flotilla  was  already 
gone.  More  successful  in  the  following  year,  lie  embarked,  and, 
with  happier  auspices,  reached  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Superior 

God,  and  realize  the  truth  "  that,  when  m^t  bereft  of  human  eonsolatlon, 
God  takes  possession  of  the  heart  and  convinces  it  liow  far  liis  lioly  grace 
BurpasiCH  all  consolation  to  be  found  in  creatures."  Hence  he  was  a  most 
iisofiillaborer  in  God's  vineyard.  II's  Superiors  called  him  "Pater  Frugifer,'' 
and  Risliop  Laval  styles  him  a  religious  of  most  exalted  piety,  for  whom  not 
only  the  "  French,  but  even  the  Indiana,  liad  a  most  profound  veneration." 
A.s  to  the  spot  of  his  death  I  dift'er  from  Bancroft,  who  (vol.  iii.  147),  sup- 
poses him  to  have  perished  between  Keweenaw  and  Chegoiniegon  ;  but  from 
a  study  of  the  narratives,  and  the  fact  of  the  Ilurons  being  at  the  time  on 
Green  Bay,  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  stated  in  the  text. 
*  Jesuit  Journal  ;  Relation,  l*)64-5,  ch.  3;  MS.  notice  of  death  of  Allouej 


358 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


t 


and  began  his  labors,  which,  for  the  next  thirty  years,  were  dmo- 
ted  witli  unabated  zeal  to  the  moral  and  mental  elevation  of  the 
Indians  of  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Illinois.  lie  may  indeed  bo 
styled,  in  justice,  the  Apostle  of  the  West. 

After  great  toil  a!id  suftering,  aggravated  by  the  brutality  of 
his  conductors,  he  arrived  on  the  1st  of  September,  1065,  at  Saiilt 
St.  Mary's,  and  for  a  month  coasted  fdong  the  southern  shoiv. 
After  stopping  at  St.  Theiesa's  Bay,  where  two  Christian  woinon 
reminded  him  of  Menard's  labors,  ho  advanced  to  the  beaut it'iil 
bay  of  Chegoimegon,  which  he  reached  on  the  1st  of  Octolier. 
Ten  or  twelve  petty  Algonquin  tribes  soon  assembled  there  to 
hang  on  the  war-kettle,  and  prepare  for  a  general  invasion  of  the 
land  of  the  Sioux.  Tlie  young  braves  were  rousing  each  other  to 
phrensy  by  dance,  and  song,  and  boast.  The  envoy  of  Christ  was 
the  envoy  of  peace.  His  influence  was  not  exerted  in  vain.  Tho 
sachems  pronounced  against  the  war.  Tranquillity  being  thus  in- 
sured, Allouez  adorned  his  chapel  of  the  Holy  Ghost  at  the  spot 
henceforth  called  Lapointe  du  Saint  Esprit,  and  began  to  gather 
his  Indian  church.  His  chapel  was  soon  an  object  of  wonder, 
and  wandering  hunters  of  many  a  tribe  came  to  wonder  and  to 
listen.  Their  numbers  and  attention  roused  the  hopes  of  the 
earnest  and  laborious  missionary.  In  a  short  time  the  Chijipe- 
ways,  Pottawotamies,  Sacs  and  Foxes,  Kikapoos,  Miamis,  and 
Illinois  became  known  to  him,  and  to  all  he  announced  the  truths 
of  Christianity.  In  his  excursions  he  met  the  Sioux,  and  wrote 
home  telling  of  the  great  i^ver  "  Mesipi." 

At  Chegoimegon  his  labors  were  crowTied  with  but  partial  suc- 
cess. Many  were  no  strangers  to  Christianity,  but  had  long  re- 
sisted its  saving  doctrines.  Like  Menard,  he  had  to  struggle  with 
superstition  and  vice,  consoled  only,  amid  hardship  and  ill-treat- 
ment, by  the  fervor  of  a  few  faithful  souls.  His  mission  com- 
prised two  towns — one  inhabited  by  the  Ottawa  clans,  the  Kiska- 
kons  and  Sinagos,  the  other  by  the  Tionontates.     The  latter, 


:i: 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


359 


mostly  converted  in  their  own  land,  he  endeavored  to  recall ;  the 
former,  embittered  against  the  faith,  he  endeavored  to  gain,  and 
not  in  vain.  In  the  fiist  winter  he  baptized  eighty  infants  and 
three  adults  in  danger  of  death,  and  had  the  consolation  of  gain- 
iiin;  one  whom  he  deemed  worthv  of  the  s;icrament  in  health. 

Suj^ei'stition  reigned  around  him.  The  lake  was  a  god,  the 
rapids,  rocks,  and  metals  all  were  gods ;  and  a  chimera  of  their 
own  imagination,  Missipissi,  was  the  object  of  univereal  adora- 
tion.* He  visited  also  the  Saulteurs  at  Sault  St.  Mary's,  and  after 
spending  a  month  among  them,  proceeded  to  Lake  Alimpegon, 
where  the  Nipissings,  better  taught  by  adversity  than  their  old 
Tionontate  neighbors,  aftbrded  the  missionary  greater  consolation. 
Thoy  had  had  no  priest  for  twenty  years,  and  many  were  still 
pngans,  but  the  old  Christians  were  full  of  fervor.  But  the  great 
field  in  his  eyes  was,  however,  the  new  tribes  yet  uncoiTupted  by 
intercourse  with  the  whites.f 

After  two  years  of  labor,  Allouez,  having  thus  founded  the  mis- 
sions of  the  Ottawas  and  Ojibwas,  and  revived  those  of  the  Hurons 
and  Nipissings,  returned  to  Quebec  to  lay  before  his  Supe- 
rior a  full  account  of  the  West,  and  then,  two  days  later,  without 
waiting  for  repose,  having  received  supplies  and  a  companion  in 
the  person  of  Father  Louis  Nicholas,  he  set  out  again  for  Chegoi- 
megon.J  Though  forced  to  leave  their  French  companions  at 
^lontreal,  and  otherwise,  harassed,  they  reached  their  mission  in 
safety,  and  entered,  on  their  apostolic  duties,  in  poverty  and  hun- 
ger, amid  the  insolence  and  mockery  of  the  unbeliever.  They  an- 
nounced the  faith  to  twenty-five  different  tribes,  and  out  of  these 
men  of  many  tongues,  gathered  eighty  souls  by  baptism  into  the 
church  of  Christ.g 

*  Rel.  lC66-r.  t  Eel.  1666-7,  p.  16,  &c. 

t  Jesuit  Journal. 

§  The  Our  Father  in  the  Ottawa  tongue,  as  given  by  Bishop  Baraga  in  hia 
Katolik  Anamie-Misinaigan  (3cl  edition,  Detroit,  1846),  is : 
1.  Nossina  wakwing  cbiian  apegich  kitehitwawcndaming  kid  anoaowin. 


360 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


'i    ' 


Assistance  was  now  coming.  In  April,  1668,  the  celebrated 
Father  James  Marquette  left  Quebec  with  Brother  IjQ  Boesrno, 
now  iniu'ed  to  tlie  work,  and  soon  reached  the  West  to  begin  iiis 
labors.*  Before  that,  however,  Father  Louis  had  set  out  witii  a 
flotilla  of  Nez-perces,  and  did  not  again  return  to  his  westcin 
labors.  Among  the  incidents  of  mission  life,  the  Fatliers  record  a 
noble  si)eech  in  favor  of  the  faith  by  an  old  Christian,  who,  at't<  r 
having  led  for  years  a  nomad  life,  in  danger  of  dying  unprepared, 
now  cabined  near  Father  Allouez,  as  if  to  be  assisted  by  liini  in 
death.  Death  soon  came  on,  and,  thankful  for  the  blessino; 
aftbrded  him,  he  gave  his  dying  feast,  and  to  his  heathen  guests 
declared  his  hopes  of  happiness  and  the  joy  of  his  heart,  warniiiir 
tliem  to  believe,  if  they  would  escape  fires  more  terrible  than  those 
of  the  Iroquois,  and  prolonged  to  eternity .f 

The  next  year  Allouez  himself  came  down,  in  part  to  restore 
some  Iroquois  prisonei-s,  in  part  to  seek  additional  missionaries. 
After  completing  his  errand  of  peace,  he  prepared  to  return. 
Father  Claudius  Dablon,  though  greatly  needed  at  Quebec,  was 
sent  with  him,  and  appointed  Superior  of  those  upper  missions. 
Under  the  conduct  of  this  active  and  energetic  Superior,  piattors 
took  a  new  form.     Long  trained  to  mission  life,  he  was  equally 


2.  Apegich  bidagwichinoma{rak  kid  agima  wiwin. 

3.  Enendaman  apegich  ijiwebak,  tibichko  wakwing,  mi  go  gaie  aking. 

4.  Mijichaning  nongo  agijigak  nin  pakweji  ganimina  wa-iji-aioia»g  lueme- 
chigo  gijig. 

5.  Bonigidetawichiuang  gaio  ga-iji-nichkiinangi  eji  bonigi  detawangiJwa 
ga-iji-nichkiiamindjig. 

6.  Kego  gaie  ijiwijichikangc  gagwedibeningewiniug. 

7.  Atchitchaii  dach  ininamawichinang  laaianadak.     Apeingi. 

The  Chippeway  differs  but  slightly  from  it,  as  may  be  seeu  by  the  same 
prayer  in  his  Chippeway  work  of  the  same  title.  It  begins:  **1.  Nossinuii 
gijigong  ebiian  Apegich  kitchitwawcndaming  kid  ijinakasowin ;"  and  ends: 
"7.  Midagwenamawichinam  dach  maianadak.  Migeing."  But  besides 
these  there  are  only  nine  or  ten  words  that  differ. 

*  Jes.  Journal;  Eel.  1667-8,  p.  103. 

t  Jes.  Journal;  Rel.  1667-8,  p.  110.  . 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


S{)1 


igi  detftwangiJwa 


fitted  for  command  and  direction.  The  Inciians  who  had  tjatlieied 
at  Lapointe  had  scattered  again,  some  to  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary's, 
others  even  to  Green  Bay.  Dablon  and  Manjuette  began  a  new 
station  at  the  foot  of  the  rapids  on  the  soutliern  side.  Here  Mar- 
fjuc'tte  found  an  abunchmt  harvest.  "  Two  thousand  souls,"  he 
wrote,  "were  ready  to  embrace  the  faith,  if  the  missionary  was 
faithful  to  his  task."  But  though  thus  deceived  by  his  enthusi- 
asm, he  connnitted  no  erroi-s.  He  and  his  Superior  went  on 
patiently  instructing  all,  baptizing  such  only  as  were  in  danger  of 
death.* 

Allouez  had  resolved  to  leave  Lapointe  and  proceed  to  Green 
Bay,  weary  of  the  obstinate  unbelief  of  the  Kiskakons,  who,  in- 
structed by  the  old  Huron  missionaries  in  Upper  Canada,  by 
Menard  and  by  himself,  answered  their  exhortations  only  by  ridi- 
cule. Shaking  the  dust  off  his  feet,  he  i)rep.'ued  to  depart.  An 
accident  detained  him,  and  the  Kiskakons,  corresponding  at  last 
to  grace,  yielded.  Tiie  chief,  Kekakoung,  now  ba[)tized,  spoke  in 
favor  of  Christianity.  Three  venerable  cliiefs  supported  his  views. 
Polygamy,  sacrifices,  and  superstitions  were  suppressed ;  the 
cliapel  was  thronged ;  and  by  long  and  repeated  instructions, 
Allouez  now  prepared  one  hundred  for  baptism.f 

This  post,  however,  he  soon  left  to  Father  Marquette,  who 
reached  it  in  September,  166.9,  after  a  month's  navigation  amid 
snow  and  ice,  which  closed  his  way,  and  frequently  perilled  his 
life.  He  found  at  the  mission  five  villages — four  Algonquin  and 
one  Huron.  Of  these,  the  Hurons  and  Kiskakons  were  chiefly 
Christians,  the  Sinagaux  and  Keinouches  bitterly  opposed  to  the 
faith.  The  Hurons  assembled  in  their  village  to  recei>'e  him; 
but  Marquette,  little  vereed  in  their  language,  was  not  able  to 
minister  to  their  wants.  The  Kiskakons  received  him  joyfully ,J 
and  afforded  him  much  consolation.     At  a  word,  thev  renounced 


Eel.  1668-9,  p.  102. 


t  Eel.  1668-9,  p.  86. 
16 


:  Eel.  1669-70,  p.  40, 


362 


AMEUICAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


[>r.'ictic('.s  still  retain<"l,  hut  savoiiui,^  of  siipeixtition  ;  and  tlio  sick 
cariM'stly  l)oi(^od  his  itrcsciKjo  to  krcj)  ofi'  tlu;  iiKMlicint^-iiK'n.  A 
skilful  missionary,  ^^al•qu('tt('  did  not  endeavor  to  alter  their  tinie- 
lionored  customs,  unless  when  sinful.  I'rayer  replaced  tl'e  idohi- 
trous  ceremonies  in  their  festivals,  and  acts  of  devotion  tlieir  sense- 
less juijgleries.  To  enjoy  the  labors  of  the  missionary  the  more, 
they  separated  from  the  rest,  and  erected  their  winter  cabins 
around  his  chapel. 

Dablon  remained  at  the  new  mission  of  St.  Mary's  of  the  Sault. 
The  little  tribe  of  Pah-witing-dach-irini,  or  Saulteurs,  which  con- 
tained only  one  hundred  and  fifty  souls,  were  the  permanent  lesi- 
dents.  The  ricli  fisheries  Ihid  gathered  others — the  Nouquet  hun- 
ters on  the  lake  shore,  the  Chippew^iys,  Maramegs,  Acliirigoiians, 
Amicoues,  and  Missisagues,  scattered  in  the  islands,  the  Kilisti- 
nons  and  Winnebagoes  in  the  interior.  Anxious  to  extend  the 
faith,  Marquette  had  sent  an  interpreter  to  the  Sioux,  bearing  a 
present  to  the  tribe  to  obtain  protection  and  safe  conduct  for  the 
European  missionaries ;  "  that  the  Black-gown  wished  to  pass  to 
the  country  of  the  Assinipoils  and  Kilistinons ;  that  he  was  already 
among  the  Outagamis,  and  that  he  himself  was  going  in  the  fall 
to  the  Illinois." 

Such  were  their  plans.  While  Marquette  was  learning  from  an 
Illinois  captive  the  dialect  of  his  tribe,  Allouez  had  proceeded  to 
Green  Bay,  which  he  reached  early  in  December,  and  saying  bis 
first  mass  on  the  festival  of  St.  Francis  Xavier,  called  the  mission 
by  his  name.  The  town  was  a  motley  one,  made  up  of  Sacs  and 
Foxes,  Pottawotamies  and  Winnebagoes.  Assembling  the  sachems, 
he  explained  the  Christian  doctrine  and  his  purpose,  and  urged 
them  to  embrace  "  the  prayer."  His  chapel  was  then  opened  for 
instructions;  and  wdien  not  occupied  there,  he  visited  the  cabins  to 
minister  to  the  sick,  and,  if  possible,  save  them  from  eternal  death. 
Such  was  his  usual  plan.  Besides  this  town,  he  \isited  another 
Pottawotamie  town  in  the  spur  of  Green  Bay,  and  in  April  ascended 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


363 


;  and  tlifi  sick 
i(;iin^-in<'H.  A 
Iter  tlioiv  timc- 
aceil  the  idnhi- 
ion  their  Hoiisc- 
maiy  the  nioiv, 
winter  cabins 

y's  of  the  Sault. 
iurs,  which  con- 
permanent  resi- 
e  Nouquet  hiiii- 
;,  Achirigoiiaiis, 
ids,  the  Kilisti- 
\  to  extend  the 
Uoux,  bearing  a 
conduct  for  tlie 
ished  to  pass  to 
;  he  was  already 
roinff  in  the  fall 

naming  from  an 
ad  proceeded  to 

and  saying  bis 
lied  the  mission 
up  of  Sacs  and 
ng  tbe  sachonis, 

)ose,  and  urged 
then  opened  for 

id  the  cabins  to 
eternal  death. 

^^sited  another 

April  ascended 


Fox  River  to  a  town  of  that  tribe,  where  ho  announced  the  faith, 
and  after  a  short  visit  to  the  Mascoutens,  returned  to  St.  Francis. 
The  tribes  he  had  seen  were  ])owerful,  and,  except  the  Winneba- 
goes,  spidco  Algonrjuin  dialects,  received  the  missionary  with  every 
lioiKH',  and  seemed  a  rich  field  for  labor.*  'i'ho  Menoiiioiiees,  of 
tli(!  same  tongue,  a  feeble  tribe,  next  received  his  care  ;  then  the 
Winnebagoes,  onco  cut  down  by  the  Illinois  to  a  single  man, 
called  his  attention.  Their  language  ho  found  new  and  strange, 
with  no  analogy  to  the  Huron  and  Algonquin.  IIo  began  to 
study  it,  and  soon  translated  the  Lord's  prayer  and  Angelical  Salu- 
tation, with  a  brief  catechism.  His  stay  was  not  fruitless.  The 
AVinnobagoes  responded  fiir  better  to  his  teachings  than  the  Al- 
goiiquins  liad  done,  and  he  found  less  resistance  to  the  truth, 
liaving  been  able  to  baptize  fifty  infants  and  seven  adults.f 

When  tidings  of  this  vast  field  reached  Quebec  it  was  resolved 
to  send  more  missionaries  to  the  wild,  irregular  field,  which,  with 
all  its  ditficulties,  could  not  appall  or  dishearten  the  soldiers  of  the 
cross.  The  veteran  Father  Gabriel  Druilletes,  with  Father  Louis 
Andre,  who  had  in  the  last  year  learnt  the  language,  were  ac- 
cordingly sent  in  16*70. J 

*  \Vc  give  the  Our  Father  in  Pottawotamic,  from  Do  Smet's  Oregon  mig- 
eions : 

Nosinan  wakwik  ebiyin  apo  kitchitwa  kitchilwa  wenitamag  kitinosowin, 
enakosiyin  ape  piyak  kiteAvetako  tipu  wakwig,  apo  tcpwetakon  chote  kig. 
Nf?oin  ekijikiwog  michinag  mamitchiyak  ponigeledwoiket  woye  kego  kachi 
kicliiimidgin,  kinamochinag  wapatadiyak  chitchiikwan  nenimochinag  mcy- 
anek  waotichkakoyakin.     Ape  iw  nomikug. 

In  Menomonee,  as  furnished  to  mo  by  tlie  politeness  of  the  Kev.  Fl.  Blon- 
<iuel,  it  runs: 

Nlionnhiawkishiko  epian.  1.  Nlianshtchiawkaietchwitchikatek  ki  wish- 
wan.  2.  Nhanshtchiaw  katpimakat  kit  okimanwin.  3.  Enonitaman  nhan- 
phtcliiaw  katoshekin,  tipanes  kishiko  hakihi  0c  min.  4.  Mishlame  ioppi 
kislii;;^a  nin  pakishixaniminaw  oniko  eweia  0anenon  kaieshixa.  5.  Ponikite- 
tawiame  min  ka  cshishnekihikelan,  esh  ponikitetawakiOwa  ka  ishishnekihi- 
anieflwa.  6.  Pon  inishiashiame  ka  kishtipeniflwane.  7.  Miakonamanwiame 
Oe  meti.    Nhanshenikateshekin. 

t  Rel.  1669-70,  p.  62.  %  Kel,  1660-70. 


804 


AMERICAN   CATirOlJC;   MISSK^NH. 


i\ '  ' 


Pruillctcs,  full  of  sanctity  nn<l  z«'iil,  soon  cliatn^cil  tin;  Sanlr. 
TIk*  cures  li»5  crtl'ctccl  (luring  an  ci>iik'nnc  yxeiv.  ri'gardt'tl  as  lui- 
raculoiis,  ami  tlio  Indians,  in  a  general  council  on  the  lltli  of  Oc- 
tober, 1(570,  declared  tiie  Sault  to  be  Christian,  ami  adoi)te(l  llir 
(Jod  of  "the  prayer"  as  the  master  of  life.  The  chiefs  amio  to  the 
cha])el  for  instruction;  the  young  cried  out :  "The  Sault  jmiys; 
the  Sault  is  Christian  !"  All  was  now  in  motion  ;  the  minds  wtiv 
open  to  light,  the  liearts  to  grace :  in  six  months  120  children  wtio 
baptized,  and  when  in  January,  10*71,  the  church  and  mission-hoiiso 
were  destroyed  bv  fire,  Diuilleles,  who  had  saved  nothing  but  tlif 
Blessed  Sa(;rament,  began  to  erect  a  new  and  finer  one.  Within 
the  year  he  baptized  thiee  hundred  souls ;  but  Druilletes  was  not 
only  a  most  successful  missionary  and  able  counsellor ;  ho  Avas^  in 
the  eyes  of  his  contemporaries,  a  saint.* 

Marquette  had,  as  we  have  seen,  opened  a  friendly  corres- 
pondence with  the  Sioux ;  but  the  Ottawas  and  llurons  of  La- 
pointe,  by  their  folly  and  treachery,  provoked  a  war  which  com- 
pelled them  to  flee  eastward.  The  Dahcotas,  sending  back  to 
Marquette  his  pictures  and  other  presents,  declared  war.  The  Ot- 
tawas set  out  firet,  having  chosen  as  their  abode  the  island  Ekaen- 
touton  or  Manitouline :  the  llurons  remained  for  a  time  with 
Marquette,  but  finally  embarked  on  Lake  Superior,  and  descendinn; 
the  rapids,  doubled  the  cape  and  landed  at  Michilimackinaw,  where 
they  had  been  some  years  before.  Here  Father  Marquette  began, 
in  1671,  his  mission  of  St.  Ignatius,  having  raised  his  chapel  on  the 
mainland  opposite  the  island.  The  place  was  bleak,  exposed, 
and  barren ;  but  the  missionaiy  was  full  of  confidence  and  lio{x\ 
although  he  had  more  to  suffer  than  to  do.f 

The  Ottawas  were  not  abandoned.  Father  Andre  was  appointed 
pastor  of  the  tribes  on  the  islands  and  shores  of  Lake  Huron,  many 
of  whom  were  in  pait  Christians.     His  duties  were  equally  hiho- 

*  Kcl.  1670-1,  p.  162 ;  see  Charlevoix.  t  Kel.  1670-1,  p.  147. 


Pp     f 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


^Qo 


rioiw  and  dnnffcrous;  but  he  was  lull  of  /oal  and  courai^e.  Leaving 
Saiilt  St.  MaI•v'^^  on  tho  28tli  of  August,  1G70,  ho  linst  visiicvl  tlio 
MissisaguoH,  then  tlie  Aniicouos,  and,  at'lcr  it'ijowing  tho  fervor  of 
till'  old,  he  hastened  to  the  new  Ottawa  mission  of  St.  Simon's  on 
Mauitouhne ;  wlieie,  hke  his  pied('(!essor8,  lie  had  to  struggle  witii 
the  jK'rversity  and  superstition  of  most  of  the  elans.  Although  he 
Iwitl  hitherto  sutl'ered  greatly  trom  want  and  scareity  of  all  kinds 
i»f  food,  lie  ascended  French  Kiver  to  Lake  Nipissing,  and  wintered 
there  among  the  Outisquagamis  (?  Tetniseamings),  the  long-haired 
tribes  on  its  borders,  whom  he  drew  to  the  chapel  by  his  skill  in 
music,  and  tauglit  assiduously,  living  on  acorns  and  tripe  de  roche, 
an  edible  moss.  In  the  spring  he  returned  to  Manitouline,  his  central 
station.* 

The  new  mission  of  St.  Francis  Xavier  was  now  the  cliief  hope 
of  the  missionaries,  who,  finding  further  progress  through  Lake 
Supeiior  closed  by  the  war-like  and  outraged  Dahcotas,  hoped, 
through  Fox  Kiver,  to  I'cacli  new  nations.  In  September,  1G70, 
Allouez  returned  with  Dablon,  liis  Sujiorior.  Throwing  down  a 
rude,  unshapely  idol  at  the  Kakalin  rapids,  they  proceeded  to  the 
Mascoutens'  town,  inhabited  partly  by  Miamis.  Addressing  tlio 
sachems  as  to  their  object,  they  both  preached  and  urged  the  In- 
dians to  embrace  the  faith.  Some  Illinois  whom  they  met  gave, 
however,  better  hopes,  and  inspired  them  with  the  desire  of  realizing 
Marquette's  projected  Illinois  mission.  Meanwhile,  however,  Al- 
louez wintered  in  Wisconsin,  laboring  altemately  among  the 
Miamis  and  Mascoutens  in  one  village,  which  formed  his  mission 
of  St.  Francis  Xavier,  and  among  the  Foxes  at  his  mission  of  St. 
Mark.t 

The  same  year  Dablon  descended  to  Quebec  to  become  Superior 
of  all  the  Canada  missions,  and  sent,  as  liis  successor  in  the  West, 
Father  Henry  Nouvel,  who  had  already  been  inured  to  toil  and 


*  Kel.  1670-1,  p.  115. 


t  Rcl.  1670-1,  p.  155. 


366 


AMEKICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


II 


difficulty,  amid  the  tnbcs  on  the  lower  St.  Lawrence  and  Saguenay. 
DispatchiiJg*  Andre  to  Green  Bay,  Nouvel  took  his  wandering  mis- 
sion, and  for  more  than  six  months  traversed  the  islands  and  tlio 
northern  shore  of  the  lake  from  Lake  Nipissing  to  Sault  St.  MaryV. 
Louis,  the  fervent  convert  of  Menard,  now  chief  Christian  at  Maiii- 
touline,  was  his  main  support  and  consolation.  Among  the  Beavor 
Indians,  or  Amicou^s,  he  was  beaten  and  expelled  from  a  cabin, 
where  he  was  endeavoring  to  save  a  dying  Christian  from  the  medi- 
cine-men, but  was  rewarded  for  this  humiliation  by  the  conversion 
of  one  of  those  impostors.  The  sick  w.^re,  as  usual,  his  chief  oaio; 
and,  as  he  was  a  devout  client  of  Father  Brebeuf,  he  frequently 
employed  his  relics,  and  invoked  his  aid.  His  lettere  assure  us 
that  heaven  deigned  to  approve  the  sanctity  of  the  illustrious 
martyr  by  miraculous  cures. 

Druilletes  still  labored  at  Sault  St.  Mary's  and  Marquette  at 
Mackinaw,  while  in  Wisconsin  AUouez  and  Andre  gave  form  at 
last  to  their  missions.  Andre  gathered  the  children  at  the  Bay, 
and  taught  them  to  sing  hynms  embodying  the  doctrines  of 
Christianity,  or  ridiculing  superstition,  whilst  he  accompanied  them 
on  the  flute.  Allouez,  among  the  Foxes  and  !Mascoutens,  wtis 
regularly  increasing  his  little  flock.* 

In  1672  many  of  the  Ottawas  settled  at  Marquette's  post,  having 
been  much  improved  by  a  mission  of  Father  Andre.  Their  t'oit 
was  at  some  distance  from  the  Hurons,  and  the  church  attended 
by  both  lay  bet\veen.  Their  isolated  position  afforded  many  ad- 
vantages, and  the  zealous  missionary  found  many  consolations  in 
the  improvement  of  his  flock.  He  was  constantly  in  movement 
from  one  village  to  the  other,  visiting  them  in  their  cabins  and 
fields,  or  summoning  them  to  prayer  on  holidays. 

At  the  Green  Bay  mission,  Andre,  during  a  temporary  absencf, 
had  his  mission-house  and  all  his  winter  supply  of  dried  fish,  his 


*  Rol.  1G71-2,  p.l09. 


FRENCH  MISSIONS. 


367 


nets,  ami  all  his  property  burnt  by  the  pagans.  Undaunted  by  this, 
lie  raised  a  cabin  amid  the  ruins,  and  renewed  his  attacks  on  their 
polygamy  and  supei-stition.  Avowed  adorers  of  the  devil  or  evil 
spiiit,  they  attacked  him  for  the  opposition  he  made  to  the  object 
of  their  woi'ship.  "  The  devil,"  exclaimed  a  chief,  "  is  the  only 
great  captain  :  he  put  Chi-ist  to  death,  and  will  kill  you."*  Such 
was  the  hard  and  unpromising  field  now  before  Andre  ;  but  he  did 
not  falter,  and  made  converts  in  the  very  cabins  of  his  bitterest 
enemies  at  Chouskouabika  and  Oussouamigoung,  his  two  chief 
viihiijes. 

Allouez,  meanwhile,  had  planted  a  towering  cross  at  St.  James 
of  the  Mascoutens,  and  by  Assumption  Day,  1G72,  opened  his 
chapel  of  mats  to  the  Illinois,  Kikapoos,  Mascoutens,  Miamis,  and 
Weas  cabined  there.  So  great  was  the  curiosity  of  the  throng, 
that  they  broke  in  the  sides  of  his  chapel,  and  Allouez  at  last  came 
forth,  and,  when  silence  had  been  proclaimed  by  an  aged  chief,  rose 
to  speak.  "  God  gave  me  grace  to  speak  Miami,"  says  he.  In 
that  tongue  he  poured  forth  words  of  truth  and  love.  His  long  in- 
struction was  heard  with  wonder,  for  so  fluctuating  was  the  popu- 
lation that  few  had  ever  seen  or  heard  him  before.  He  now  began 
regular  instructions  in  his  chapel  for  the  various  tribes,  visited  each 
nation,  cabin  by  cabin,  instructing,  consoling,  baptizing  the  sick. 
When  about  to  depart,  he  met  a  band  of  the  Illinois,  whom  he  also 
iiistnicted,  but  whose  sui'prise  was  endless  at  his  attention  to  a  poor 
sick  boy ;  for  philanthropy  and  benevolence  are  but  faint  shadows 
of  Christian  charity,  and  are  found  only  where  the  cross  has  been 
planted.  With  these,  the  Pottawotamies  near  Green  Bay,  and  the 
Foxes  of  St.  Mark,  he  spent  the  year.  The  latter  had  received  from 
tlie  Iroquois  calumnies  against  the  missionaries,  and,  losing  some 


*  A  similar  speech  occurred,  it  will  bo  recollected,  in  the  Florida  inissimi, 
and  no  fact  is  better  established  than  that  of  the  demon-worship  of  the 
American  tribes. 


■1i 


368 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


Christians  iu  war,  began  to  view  Alloiiez  with  suspicion ;  yet  his 
mission,  during  the  year,  sliows  nearly  200  baptisms.* 

Sucli  was  the  wandering  life  of  this  early  apostle  of  Wisconsin, 
continually  visiting  the  various  stations,  instructing  in  public  and 
in  private,  planting  the  cross  on  many  a  highland  ;  above  all,  en- 
deavoring to  abolish  idolatry  and  superstition,  sometimes  heard, 
sometimes  derided :  now  an  object  of  suspicion,  as  some  rambler 
came  in  from  a  distant  tribe  with  his  tale  against  the  Black-gown ; 
now,  a  very  murderer  in  their  eyes,  as  a  Christian  fell  in  battle,  or 
died  after  baptism :  ever,  therefore,  with  his  life  in  his  hands,  ex- 
posed to  perish  by  famine  or  the  hand  of  man,  when,  driven  from 
a  village,  he  cabined  alone  in  the  snow.  Such  was  indeed  not  the 
life  of  AUouez  alone,  but  of  all  his  associates  in  the  Northwest.  But 
Allouez,  the  pioneer  of  all,  was  doomed  also  to  see  his  toil  and 
labor  of  years  misrepresented  and  ridiculed  by  his  own  countiy- 
men,  and  even  by  missionaries. 

At  Sault  St.  Mary's,  Druilletes,  meanwhile,  had  gathered  around 
his  church  the  fervent  Kichaoueiak,  and  formed  among  the  Missisa- 
kisf  a  little  church  of  twenty  souls — inducing  many,  by  his  won- 
derful cures,  his  sanctity  and  power,  to  renounce  polygamy  and  vice. 
The  spirit  of  these  Indians  was  that  of  the  ages  of  faith.  Not  only  did 
they  bring  their  chiluren  to  receive  the  benediction  of  the  holy  mis- 
sionary, they  led  him  to  bless  their  fields,  they  brought  to  the  altar 
their  firet-fruits,  and,  when  going  to  war,  came  like  the  fervent 
Chichigouecs  to  call  down  the  blessing  of  heaven  on  their  arms, 
Druilletes  was  not  alone :  the  missions  in  the  lake  were  esiDecially 
in  the  hands  of  the  Superior  Nouvel,  who,  in  his  constant  contests 
with  the  medicine-men,  had  well-nigh  fallen  a  victim  to  his  zeal, 
for  the  axe  was  thrice  brandished  over  his  head ;  but  he  Avas  fear- 
less, and  amid  the  storms  on  the  lake,  and  the  perils  on  the  shore, 
where  he  had  no  recourse  but  prayer,  he  put  his  trust  in  the  Holy 


I  ,'i 


*  Rcl.  1672-8,  MS. 


t  Or  Missisagucs. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


(369 


Family,  aud  was  not  disappointed.  Singular  was  the  instance  of 
protection  once  af!oided  liim.  Anxious  to  reach  his  mission,  he 
prepared  to  launch  his  canoe,  when  the  Indians,  pointing  to  the 
(•(fining  storm,  implored  him  to  stay ;  but  he  put  oflf  boklly,  and, 
after  gazing  at  him  for  a  time,  they  retired.  Soon  the  storm  came 
oil  in  all  its  fury ;  and  Nouvel,  unable  to  paddle,  advance,  or  re- 
turn, lay  down  in  the  bottom  of  his  canoe  and  let  it  drive  before 
the  storm.  At  last  he  felt  that  it  was  approaching  the  shore — that 
the  Holy  Family,  constantly  invoked,  had  not  rejected  him.  In  a 
few  moments  he  sprang  ashore,  and  to  his  wonder  beheld  a  new 
mercy.  He  was  at  the  very  spot  whence  he  had  started,  but  his 
absence  had  saved  his  life  ;  a  tree  had  been  struck  by  lightning, 
aud  the  forest  far  around  was  wrapped  in  flame.* 

The  following  yeai"s  find  the  same  missions  still  existing,  though 
traversed  by  accidents.  In  1G74,  Father  Druilletes  beheld  his 
church  consumed  by  fire  during  a  conflict  between  some  Sioux  and 
some  Algonquins.  The  former  came  as  ambassadors  to  treat  of 
peace,  for  tb"  *ribe  had  been  worsted  in  recent  engagements.  The 
missionary,  desirous  of  founding  a  Sioux  mission,  had  already  some 
of  the  tribe  in  his  house  under  instruction :  with  the  same  view  he 
now  received  the  envoys.  A  council  of  reception  was  held  at  the 
mission-house  to  deliberate  on  the  proposed  peace.  While  all  were 
thus  engaged,  a  Cristinaux  brandished  his  knife  in  the  face  of  a 
Sioux  chief.  Fired  at  the  insult,  the  Dahcota  sprang  to  his  t^et, 
and,  seizing  the  stone  knife  in  his  belt,  drew  from  his  long  hair  a 
second,  which  they  always  carry  there.  Brandishing  these,  he 
shouted  his  war-cry,  and,  with  his  clansmen,  soon  drove  the  Al- 
gonquins from  the  house.  To  dislodge  them,  their  antagonists  fired 
the  building,  which  was  totally  destroyed,  killed  the  ten  Sioux 
envoys  and  two  women,  but  lost  twice  as  many  of  their  own  num- 
ber.    Thus  was  Druilletes  doomed  to  witness  his  hopes  all  dashed 

*  Eel.  1672-3. 
16* 


t 


870 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


M 


J  f 


4 .- 


in  a  moment ;  his  church  and  house  in  ruins ;  the  Sioux  rendered 
bitter  enemies,  and  the  Algonquins  exposed  to  a  relentless  war.* 
In  1675,  Father  Peter  Bailloquet  joined  the  mission,  and  Nouvel 
leaving  to  him  his  former  ground,f  the  islands  and  upper  shore, 
pushed  further  east,  and  wintered  with  the  Amicoues  near  Lake 
Erie  in  the  former  country  of  the  Sakis,J  in  gi*eat  plenty,  for  tlio 
countiy  abounded  in  game.  Meanwhile,  another  missionaiy.  Fa- 
ther Peter  A.  Bonneault,  came  up,  in  1676,  and  returned  with 
Nouvel  to  the  Sault,§  making  their  journey  one  continuous  mission. 
Druilletes  remained  alone  at  the  Sault,  "  broken  by  age,  past  hard- 
ships, and  infirmities,  yet  laboring  on  with  unexampled  vigor"  till 
1679,  when  he  returned  to  Quebec,  and  died  there  the  next  year 
with  the  reputation  of  a  saint,  supported  and  sustained  by  miraclc's.|| 

At  Mackinaw,  which  Father  Marquette  had  founded,  we  find 
Father  Philip  Piereon  succeeding  him  in  the  care  of  the  Hurons, 
when  that  missionary  at  last  set  out  on  the  voyage  which  has  im- 
mortalized his  name.  By  his  exertions  a  new  church  was  built 
and  opened  in  1674,  awaiting  Marquette's  return;  but  only  his 
bones  reached  it  long  after,  to  be  deposited  in  a  grave  before  tlie 
altar.  In  1677,  Father  Nouvel  repaired  to  this  post  to  take  charge 
of  the  Ottawas ;  for  them  he  built  the  bark  chapel  of  St.  Francis 
Borgia,  and  though  the  cross,  when  first  planted,  was  fired  at  by 
the  pagans,  a  zealous  chief  caused  a  reparation  to  be  made.  This 
chief  was  the  soul  of  the  mission  ;  such  was  his  piety  and  devo- 
tion that  he  drew  on  himself  the  title  of  the  Black-gown  chief;  but, 
proof  alike  to  ridicule  and  violence,  he  became  the  column  of  the 
rising  church. 

In  this  double  mission  the  Kiskakons  numbered  about  1300 ;  the 
Hurons  600 :  each  village  was  under  an  oflScer  of  the  faith  or 
catechist,  who,  after  the  missionaiy  had  finished  his  instruction,  re- 
peated and  explained  it.     The  dances  were  by  this  time  almost 


*  Rel.  1673-0.     t  Rel.  1675.     t  Rel.  1676-7,    §  Kel.  1673-9.     I!  Paris  Doc. 


FliENCH  MIS.  IONS. 


371 


abolished,  those  ouly  of  the  women  being  left,  and  at  these  the 
chants  were  consecrated  by  religion.  The  Sundays  and  holidays 
were  kept  with  extraordinary  piety,  and  both  villages  assembled 
every  Thursday  afternoon  at  the  Benediction  of  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment. In  fact,  Mackinaw  now  begJin  to  rival  Laprairie  and  Lo- 
rc'tte  in  the  fervor  and  piety  of  its  Christian  Indians. 

The  solemn  and  interesting  ceremony  of  the  translation  of  the 
remains  of  Marquette  from  their  obscure  resting-place  to  the  mis- 
sion which  he  had  founded,  gave  a  new  impulse  to  their  fervor. 
The  illustrious  explorer  of  the  Mississippi  expired  near  the  mouth 
of  the  river  which  bears  his  name,  and  was  there  interred  by  his 
sorrowing  comrades.  Uis  Kiskakons  were  too  deeply  attached  to 
their  faithful  missionary  id  leave  his  body  in  so  unhonored  a  grave. 
Tiiey  resolved,  in  16V 7,  to  transport  liis  remains  to  Mackinaw; 
and,  landing  at  the  spot,  opened  the  grave.  The  body  was  entire, 
tiiough  dried  up ;  clearing  the  flesh  from  the  bones,  they  inclosed 
them  in  a  box  of  bark,  and,  depositing  it  in  a  canoe,  proceeded  to- 
wards their  village  in  a  long  and  silent  convoy.  Some  Iroquois 
canoes  which  met  them,  learning  the  nature  of  the  ceremony,  joined 
the  line.  On  appearing  before  Mackinaw,  the  two  villages,  headed 
by  their  missionaries,  Pierson  and  Nouvel,  came  down  to  the  shore, 
and  verifying  the  identity  of  the  body,  lan«led  it  amid  the  chant  of 
the  "  De  Profundis."  Borne  then  with  the  usual  ceremonies  to  the 
church,  it  lay  exposed  till  the  next  day,  the  9th  of  June,  when, 
after  a  mass  of  requiem,  it  was  interred  in  a  Uttle  vault  in  the 
middle  of  the  chui'ch,  "  where,"  says  Father  Dablon,  "  he  reposes  as 
the  guardian  angel  of  our  Ottawa  missions."* 

To  consolidate  this  mission  of  St.  Ignatius,  another  missionary, 
Father  John  Enjalran,  was  sent  in  1678,  destined  to  labor  for 
many  year's  at  that  post.f 

Meanwhile  the  third  OttaAva  mission,  that  of  Green  Bay,  went 


11 


-9.    i  Paris  Doo. 


*  Shea's  Disc.  Mississippi,  p.  63. 


+  JSel.  1678. 


372 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


Ml 


i       s 


steadily  on.  Father  Louis  Andio,  a  man  of  firmness  and  ability, 
directed  at  St.  Xavier's  his  little  church  of  five  hundred  Chris- 
tians, which  slowly  but  gradually  increased,  and  at  the  same  time 
he  kept  down  the  opposition  of  the  pagans.  His  house  at  Green 
Bay  had  been  burnt,  another  on  the  Menomonee  now  shared  its 
fate ;  but  he  still  went  on,  and,  living  almost  constantly  in  his 
canoe,  went  from  station  to  station  along  the  bay,  visiting  the  six 
tribes  of  his  paiish.*  In  1676,  the  veteran  Father  Charles  Alba- 
iiel,  broken  by  toil,  just  returning  from  an  English  prison,  whither 
he  had  been  hurried  from  the  snows  of  Hudson's  Bay,  became 
Superior  of  the  western  missions,  and  took  up  his  post  at  Green 
Bay,  where  again  a  fine  church  was  soon  raisedf  by  the  Rapide  des 
Peres,  partly,  it  would  seem,  by  the  aid  of  the  western  tradei"s,J 
and  among  others  of  Nicholas  Pen'ot,  so  well  known  as  an  ex- 
plorer of  the  West. 

Allouez  still  directed  his  two-fold  mission  near  Winnebago 
Lake,  and  during  the  year  1674,  baptized  one  hundred  and  sixty 
of  the  Fox,  Mascoutens,  and  other  tribes,  propagating  assiduously 
devotion  to  the  cross,§  and  consoled  by  the  piety  of  Joseph,  a  fer- 
vent Miami  chief,  and  of  the  Christian  maidens,  who,  amid  all 
allurements,  persevered  in  the  path  of  virtue.  He  labored  chiefly 
in  the  Fox  town,  then  harassed  by  war,  but  extended  his  labore 
also  to  Sacs  and  Winnebagoes.||  To  assist  him,  the  Superior  at 
Quebec  now  sent  Father  Anthony  Silvy,  who,  on  the  6th  of  April, 
1676,  announces  his  arrival  at  Mascoutens,  where  he  found  thirty- 
six  adult  Christians  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  children,  and 
soon  added  to  the  number  by  baptisms,  for  he  immediately  began 

*  Rel.  1675-6-7.  f  Rel  1673-9. 

X  In  digging  the  foundations  of  a  house  on  the  site  of  this  church  a  few 
years  since,  a  splendid  silver  ostensorium  was  found,  with  this  inscription: 
"»J«  Ce  Soleil  a  etd  donne  par  M.  Nicolas  Pcrrot  k  la  mission  de  St.  Francois 
Xavier,  en  la  Bayo  des  Puants.  ^  1686." — McCdbe's  Gazetteer  of  Wiscon- 
sin.   The  Puants  here  mentioned  are  the  Winnebagoes. 

§  Rel.  1675.  i  Rel.  1676-7. 


FRENCH  MISSIONS. 


873 


his  label's.  AUouez  and  Silvy  now  labored,  together  or  apart,* 
till  October,  when  the  former,  appointed  successor  to  Marquette, 
set  out  for  the  Illinois  country,  leaving  the  latter  alone.f  About 
1G79,  Silvy,  recalled  to  Tadoussac,  was  in  turn  replaced  by  Father 
Peter  A.  Bontieault ;;[  and  soon  after  AUouez,  driven  from  the  Illi- 
nois country,  returned  to  Mascoutens,  and  again  i-esumed  his  mis- 
sion there. 

Such  was  the  state  of  the  Ottawa  mission  when  the  last  Jesuit 
Relations  were  written.  Deprived  of  their  guidance,  we  find,  in 
subsequent  years,  but  scattered  notices,  from  which  we  must  now 
endeavor  to  fonn  a  connected  whole. 


CHAPTER   XX. 


THE    OTTAWA    MISSION (CONTINUED.) 


Later  history  of  the  old  Jesuit  missions — A  mission  servant  Icilled — Tlio  cliurch  at 
Green  Bay  burnt — Mission  at  Maclilnaw  abandoned— Its  restoration— Detroit— Death 
of  F.  Constantino- The  last  missionaries — Le  Franc,  Du  Jaunay,  and  Potier — Tlie 
Sioux  mission— Hennepin— Marest— Captivity  of  Guignas — Martyrs— Close  of  the  old 
mission— The  Sulpitian  mission  at  the  Lake  of  the  Two  Mountains. 


For  some  time  the  only  account  of  the  western  missions  is  such 
as  we  glean  from  incidental  expressions  of  travellers.  Father  Le 
Clercq,  the  author  of  the  Recollect  annals,  pays  his  tribute  of 
praise  to  the  unremitting  labors  of  the  Jesuits,  which  had  all  the 
success  that  could  be  expected  in  nomadic  tnbes.  The  missions 
of  the  Fathers  of  the  Society  of  Jesus  had  indeed,  from  the  arrival 
of  AUouez  in  1665,  resulted  in  the  baptism  of  many  pagans,  old 


*  Rel.  1673-9. 
t  Rel.  1673-9. 


t  Shea's  Disc.  Mississ.  p.  00. 
Silvy  is  inentiored  in  Kel.  1678. 


374 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


m  -' 


r  I 


;.  J 


H: 


nnd  youDg,  most  indeed  since  dead,  yet  enough  surviving  to  tbiin 
important  missions  at  Sauit  St.  Mary's,  Mackinaw,  Green  liay, 
Winnebago  Luke,  and  the  scattered  islands  in  Lake  Huron,  all  of 
which  were  in  8UC(;esslnl  operation.  Of  the  individuals  we  know 
little.  In  1G80,  Father  Enjalraii  was  apparently  Offcue  at  Grceii 
Bay,  and  I'ierson  at  Mackinaw — the  latter  mission  still  comprising 
the  two  villages,  Huron  and  Kiskakon.  Of  the  other  missi(>us, 
neitlier  Le  Olercq  nor  Hennepin,  the  Recollect  writers  of  the  \\'est 
at  tliis  time,  make  any  mention,  or  in  any  way  allude  to  their 
existence,  and  La  Hontan  mentions  the  Jesuit  missions  only  tu 
ridicule  them. 

France  had  taken  formal  possession  of  the  "West  in  1G*71,  at  a 
congress  of  tribes,  held  at  Mackinaw,  and  in  the  wars  now  about 
to  break  out  with  the  L'oquois,  called  on  their  western  Indians  to 
aid  them.  This  caused  much  activity  and  preparation  on  the 
hikes,  and  with  the  former  opposition  of  La  Salle  to  the  Jesuits, 
tended  materially  to  injure  the  missionary  cause.  Dissensions 
among  the  Indians  followed,  and  the  French  finally  lost  much  of 
their  hold  on  the  aftection  of  the  western  tribes  which  the  mission- 
aries had  hitherto  secm*ed  without  an  effort.  The  missionaries 
themselves  were  now  in  danger.  Among  the  Winnebagoes,  a  ser- 
vant of  the  mission  was  murdered,  and  though  demanded,  the  sat- 
isfaction in  presents  required  by  Indian  ideas  was  never  given. 
Indeed,  so  ill-disposed  were  the  Winnebagoes,  that  they  ^^ere 
about  to  follow  up  the  blow  by  the  destruction  of  the  missionaries 
and  their  church,  for  fear  the  Jesuits  should  by  some  means  de- 
sti'oy  their  tiibe.  A  faithful  chief  succeeded  in  dispelling  this 
superstitious  idea,  and  calmed  them  all  for  a  time. 

Among  the  Foxes,  too,  a  lay-brother  was  cruelly  treated,  and 
compelled  by  a  chief  to  work  for  them,  a  drawn  sabre  over  Iiis 
head  awaiting  but  a  signal  to  descend.* 

*  De  la  Potherie,  ii.  153. 


FRENCH  jn^SIONS. 


875 


Wliile  tilings  were  tluw  unfavorable,  Father  Enjalran  wjis 
called  upon  to  accompany  the  Ottawa  troops  led  by  J  >urantaye, 
to  join  in  Denonville's  expedition  against  the  Senecas.  To  absolve 
the  dying  Christian,  Ihj  fearlessly  exposed  his  pei-son  on  the  Held 
of  battle,  and  wiis  there  severely  wounded.  While  stretched  on 
his  bed  of  pain,  during  the  tedious  period  of  convalescence,  he 
soon  after  heard,  in  deep  affliction,  that  his  church  and  house  at 
(Jreen  ]5ay  had  been  destroyed  by  fire,  the  pagans  having  in  the 
al)sence  of  the  Christian  chiefs  accomplished  their  design.* 

Enjalran  returned,  however,  the  next  year,  as  he  appears  in 
1088  on  the  Ottawa  mission  with  AUouez,  Nouvel,  Albanel,  and 
r»:iilloquet,  the  veterans  of  the  West,  aided  by  Gravier,  soon  to 
repair  to  Illinois,  with  Claude  Aveneau,  whom  La  Ilontan  met  at 
Detroit  in  lG87,with  the  Cayuga  missionary,  Stephen  de  Carheil,f 
and  soon  after  with  Father  Nicholas  Potier.J  By  these  some  new 
stations  were  begun,  and  among  them  the  long  flourishing  Potta- 
Avotaniie  mission  of  St.  Joseph's  River,  founded  by  AUouez,  who 
died  there  full  of  days  and  merits.§ 

For  several  years  we  now  lose  all  trace  of  the  labors  of  our  mis- 
sionaries in  the  Northwest.  Political  intrigue  had  entered  that 
field,  and  the  propagation  of  the  taith  was  sacrificed  to  petty  and 
selfish  views.  The  race  of  truly  Catholic-hearted  rulers  in  Canada 
was  gone  ;  a  new  race  had  succeeded,  and  not  one  would  re-echo 
the  words  w^ith  which  Champlain,  the  first  governor,  oj^ens  the 
histoiy  of  his  voyages.  This  was  not  all.  England  had  entered 
the  field  to  contest  with  France  the  mastery  of  the  Northwest. 
Mackinaw  was  abandoned ;  a  new  post  arose  at  Detroit,  and  hither 
the  Hurons  and  afterwards  the  Ottawas  removed.  At  Mackinaw 
there  remained  only  a  few  Algonquins,  all  heathens,  with  somo 
coiweurs  de  bois  almost  as  heathen  as  they.||      ' 


*  De  la  Potherie ;  Charlevoix,  ii.  354.  t  Catal.  S.  J.  1688. 

X  Belmont's  Canada.    He  makes  Potior  descend  in  Dec.  1684. 
§  Charlevoix,  iii.  393.  \  Charlevoix. 


376 


AMElllCAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


t 


J  I  } 


II 


P  i- 


!■ 

;' 

5       i                                :•           ; 

In  tlio  liist  year  of  the  oiglitcenth  century,  Father  Enjaiiaii, 
then  at  (Quebec,  wan  sent  to  the  West  with  Courtenianche  to  in- 
duce the  western  tribes  to  appear,  by  their  envoys,  at  the  jLfic.it 
Concfress  of  1701.  lie  wintered  at  Mackinaw.*"  At  that  epocli 
we  jLjfh'an  from  a  catiilojijuef  that  Nouvel,  Aveneau,  and  de  C'ar- 
heil  were  still  on  the  Ottawa  mission,  aided  by  Father  James  ,1. 
Marest;  but  of  their  respective  stations  even,  to  say  nothing  of 
their  labors,  we  have  no  tidings. 

Three  years  later,  the  veteran  Nouvel  disappears,  replaced  by 
Fatlier  John  13.  Chardon,J  whom  we  soon  after  find  in  Illinois; 
and  in  1*706,  the  missionaries  at  Mackinaw,  finding  it  useless  to 
continue  the  mission  there,  or  struggle  any  longer  with  sujxMsti- 
tion  and  vice,  fired  their  house  and  chapel,  and  returned  to  Que- 
bec. AlaiTned  at  this  step,  the  governor  at  last  promised  to  en- 
force the  laws  against  the  dissolute  French,  and  prevailed  on 
Father  James  J.  Marest  to  return.  Soon  after  the  Ottawas,  discon- 
tented at  Detroit,§  where  the  blootl  of  a  Recollect  had  been  slied 
in  a  riot,  began  to  move  back  to  Mackinaw,  and  the  mission  of  St. 
Ignatius  was  renewed.|| 

Here,  in  1*711,  we  find  Father  James  J.  Marest  Superior  of  the 
Ottawa  and  Illinois  missions ;  and  so  little  intercourse  was  there 
between  the  various  stations,  that  his  oflHcial  duties  now,  for  the 
fii*st  time  in  fifteen  yeare,  brought  him  in  contact  with  his  brotlier 
Gabriel,  although  the  distance  between  their  posts  could  now  be 
travelled  in  a  day.  Then  it  was  a  long  journey  in  the  wilderness, 
4' ■ 

*  De  la  Potherio,  iv.  102.  f  Catal.  Prov.  Franciee,  S.  J.  1700. 

X  Cat.  1703. 

§  The  French  post  at  Detroit  was  served  by  Recollects.  In  1706,  the  rash- 
ness of  Do  Bourgmont,  the  French  commander,  led  to  trouble  between  the 
Indians  of  different  tribes,  in  the  course  of  which  Father  Nicholas  Benedict 
Constantine,  the  Kecollect  chaplain  of  the  fort,  was  killed.  Other  Recollects 
succeeded  him  at  this  post  down  to  1782,  but  none  apparently  undertook 
any  Indian  mission ;  that  duty  devolving  on  the  Jesuits.  Of  Father  Con- 
stantine, I  have  no  tidings  beyond  the  fact  of  his  deatli. 

j  Charlevoix,  ii.  306. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


377 


and  each,  overboiiie  with  toil,  could  ill  steal  days  for  rest  or  a 
visit. 

Charlevoix,  the  histonan,  visited  the  Ottawa  missions  iu  1721, 
and  his  journal  gives  us  the  next  account  of  them.  Mackinaw  was 
still  a  missionary  station ;  but,  as  he  remarks,  th«;  Fathem  were  not 
much  employed,  having  never  found  any  groat  docility  among  the 
Ottawas.*  There  was  a  missionary  at  the  Sault,  and  another, 
Father  Chardon,  at  the  fort  of  Green  IJay,  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  the  mouth  of  Fox  liiwr.  This  missionary  labored  chiefly 
among  the  Sacs;  but,  finding  them  indocile,  was  busy  studying  the 
Winnebago  in  order  to  labor  among  that  tribe.  Charlevoix,  as  an 
envoy  of  the  king,f  urged  the  Sacs  to  greater  respect  and  docility 
for  their  missionaiy,  if  they  hoped  to  retain  the  favor  of  the  French 
king,  and  apparently  produced  a  good  eft'ect.  At  the  fort  on  the 
St.  Joseph's  River  was  anotlier  missionary,  recently  arrived,  who 
was  attempting  to  restore  the  long-interrupted  work.  His  flock 
consisted  of  two  villages,  one  of  Miamis,  the  other  of  Pottawotamies. 
Some  Mascoutens  and  Foxes  liad  been  there  previously,  but  were 
now  settled  elsewhere.  The  Pottawotamie  orator  Wilamek  was  a 
Christian  in  name,  but  far  from  being  so  in  practice.  Charlevoix 
reproached  him,  but  without  effect,  for  his  neglect  of  his  Christian 
duties.;!; 

Subsequently  to  this  the  Fox  war  plunged  all  the  West  into  dis- 
order, and  greatly  embarrassed  eveiy  eflbrt  made  by  the  missiona- 
ries. From  that  time,  indeed,  the  Ottawa  mission  is  almost  un- 
known till  the  days  of  the  last  Jesuit  missionaries  of  the  West. 

Afler  a  time  the  whole  mission  devolved  on  two  celebrated  Fa- 
thei-s,  Marin  Louis  Lefranc  and  Peter  du  Jaunay,  the  last  of  the 
old  Jesuit  missionaries  among  the  Western  tribes.  They  were  both 
stationed  at  Mackinaw  till  about  1765,§  and  regularly  visited  the 


"^  Cliarlev.  V.  412.  +  Charlev.  v.  432;  Sandwich.         X  Charlev.  vi.  21). 

§  In  this  year  two  Jesuit  missionaries  are  said  to  have  been  put  to  death 

ou  an  eminence  by  a  rapid  on  the  Fox  River,  thence  called  Le  Rapide  des 


878 


AMKHICAN   CATIIUI.IC   MISSIONS. 


HI 

ijH 


M^l 

»■ 

r 

various  stations  on  Lako  Mi(.■hii,^•ln.  Tlioir  nicniory  was  lon«;  m 
bont'tii(;tion  among  the  Ituliaiis,  and  as  lato  as  lH'20,  aj^od  nu-n  <it" 
the  tribo  at  Arbre  Croclu;  could  point  to  the  spot  wlnTu  clu 
.Jaunay  was  wont  to  say  his  breviary.  Futlicr  iVtor  J'otier  occa- 
sionally visited  Illinois  and  ministered  to  the  Indians  near  that  jmk 
till  his  death  in  1781.*  l>u  Jaunay  and  JiCtVanc  had  ahvady 
preceded  him,  and  with  his  death  closed  the  old  Jesuit  missi()ll^  in 
the  Northwest. 

There  is  yet,  however,  one  mission  of  which  we  have  not  hitht  rto 
spoken.  Father  Menard  liad  proje(;ted  a  Sioux  mission:  Mar- 
«[uette,  Allouez,  Druilletes,  all  entertained  hopes  of  realizing  it,  and 
had  some  intercoui'se  with  that  nation,  but  none  of  them  ever  suc- 
ceeded in  establishing  a  mission  amonu:  them.  When  La  Salic 
was  carrying  out  his  mighty  ])lan8  for  colonizing  the  West,  amid 
a  thousand  difliculties,  lie  sent  the  Recollect  Father,  Louis  Henne- 
pin, in  1C80,  to  explore  the  Ohio  to  its  mouth.  That  well-kiiuwii 
missionary  was  ascending  tlie  Mississippi  in  April,  when  he  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Sioux,  and  was  by  them  detained  as  a  prisoner  till 
July,  when  Du  Luth,  a  Frencli  agent,  effected  his  liberation.  A 
stay  of  four  months  enabled  him  to  acquire  some  knowle<ige  of 
their  language  and  manners ;  but  as  a  missionary  liis  labois  were 
confined  to  a  single  case  of  baptism,  having,  after  some  liesitatioii, 
conferred  the  sacrament  on  a  dying  child.f  The  tribe  was  sultso- 
quently  visited  by  Father  Joseph  Marest,  to  whom,  doubtless,  Ciiai  • 
levoix  alludes  when  he  says:  "Our  missionaries  have  tried  to 
found  a  mission  among  them,  and  I  know  one  who  greatly  regretted 
that  he  had  not  succeeded,  or  rather  that  he  was  unable  to  stay 
any  longer  among  an  apparently  docile  people.''^  But  there  is  no 
extant  account  of  his  visit,  its  time,  or  duration. 


Pores,  a  name  preserved  in  the  town  of  Depere.  This  may  be  true,  Init  no 
traee  of  tbo  fact  is  to  be  found  in  any  work  of  tho  time.  See  Ann.  Prop. 
ii.  121.  *  MS.  in  Bureau  des  Terrcs 

t  Hennepin,  Rehition  do  la  Louisiane.  t  Tharlevoix,  v.  26P. 


FKEN'CII   MISSIONS. 


379 


\'y  Wiis  loiij;  ill 
0,  iv^y'd  men  of 
s|»ut  wIk-Tc  '111 
ter  J'otier  occa- 
s  iioar  that  jhK 
lie  had  ahvjuly 
isuit  luifssioii^  ill 

lave  not  hitlurto 

mission :  M.ii- 

roalizing  it,  ami 

t'  thcni  over  siir- 

When  La  Salle 

tho  West,  amid 

T,  Louis  Ik'lillr- 

rhat  wc'll-lviiowii 

when  he  fell  into 

las  a  prisoner  till 

liberation.    A 

le  knowlcdi^e  ut 

his  hibors  wore 

some  hesitation, 

ribe  was  subse- 

loubtless,  Chai- 

havo  tried  to 

greatly  re|,n"etted 

unable  to  stay 

But  there  is  no 


ay  ho  true,  but  no 
Sec  Ann.  Trop. 
lureau  des  Terrcs 
ix,  V.  269. 


The  first  Bishop  of  Qu»'l»ef,  tlie  vein'ral)le  La\al,  had  ilii?*  nuH- 
«ioii  Lfieatly  at  heart,  and  his  l)ioH^ra|»lier  says  tliat  .lesuil  Katiici-s 
were  sent  tlnMo  in  his  time;*  l>ut  nothiiii;  is  eertai'i  beyond  Ma- 
rest's  visits  till  17*28,  when  Father  l;L,n»atius  (iuigna.^  b<!<,in  u  mis- 
sion amon^  them,  llis  labors  were  nut,  howi^ver,  to  continu*'  Ion;;; 
lie  w.'is  compelled  to  abandon  his  int'ant  ehur<'h  on  a  victory  of 
the  Foxes  over  tho  French.  Attem]»ting  to  reach  Illinois,  (iui<;'nas 
fell  into  tho  hands  of  the  Kikap(jos  and  Mascoutens  in  October, 
1728,  and  was  for  five  months  a  captive  in  the  hands  of  those  allies 
(if  the  F^oxes,  constantly  exposed  to  death.  After  a  time  he  was 
indeed  condemned  to  be  burnt,  and  was  saved  only  by  the  inter- 
vention of  an  old  man  who  adopted  him.  Kedieved  by  supplies 
from  the  Illinois  missionaries,  (Juignas  used  what  he  received  to 
gala  the  Indians,  and  having  iiKhieed  them  to  make  jK.'ace,  lu;  was 
taken  to  the  Illinois  country  and  left  «»n  parole  till  Xoveiid)er,  1725), 
wlien  they  returned  and  took  him  back  to  their  canton,  though 
there  is  nothing  to  show  that  he  then  resumed  his  Sioux  mission.f 

We  cannot  then  consider  this  mission  as  more  than  an  episode 
ill  that  of  the  Ottawas;  but  if  we  can  believe  tradition,  the  Sioux 
shed  the  blood  of  Catholic  missionaries.  According  to  the  r>blato 
Father  Aubert,|  a  fervent  missionary,  attempting  to  penetrat(^  to 
Red  River,  wsis  killed  by  tho  Sioux  on  a  little  isle  in  the  Lake  of 
the  Woods,  and  the  rock  bedewed  by  his  blood  is  still  pointed  out 
l»y  the  Indians. 

We  have  now  closed  the  history  of  the  old  Ottawa  mission,  so  far 
as  authorities  have  enabled  us  to  follow  it  out,  and  we  now  resume 
its  results.  It  dates  properly  from  1G60,  when  Menard  began  to 
convert  the  Kiskakons,  and  undertook  to  minister  to  the  fugitive 
Ilurons.  His  successors  established  missions  among  the  Chippe- 
ways  and  Nezperccs  on  Lake  Superior ;  the  Ottawjis,  both  Kiskakon 

*  Do  la  Tour,  Vic  do  Mfjr.  Laval. 

t  Marestin  the  Lettros  Edifiantes,  &c.,  Ac. 

X  U.  S.  Cath.  Mnjr.  vii.  36:^. 


380 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


■^■^M 


and  Sinagos  in  their  various  posts,  among  the  Pottawotamies,  Win- 
nebagoes,  and  Menomonees,  on  Green  Bay  ;  and  among  the  Sacs 
and  Foxes,  Mascoutens,  Kikapoos,  and  some  families  of  tlie  Mianiis 
in  the  intenor  of  Wisconsin.  All  these  tribes  still  exist,  except  the 
Mascoutens,  merged  probably  in  the  Sacs  and  Foxes.  All  were, 
to  some  extent,  converted  to  Catholicity  before  that  sad  period  tor 
the  French  missions,  Avhen  Choiseul  directed  tlie  destinies  of  France. 
His  two  great  achievements,  the  surrender  of  Canada  and  the  sup- 
pression of  the  Jesuits,  were  a  death-blow  to  the  missions  of  the  West. 

For  thirty  years  tluie  was  no  priest  west  of  Detroit,*  and  the 
Catholic  Indifins  thus  left  to  tliemselves,  where  not  well-grounded 
by  time  in  Christianity  or  removed  from  pagan  influence,  lost  mucli 
of  their  fervor,  and  even  of  their  faith.  Yet  most  remained  trne  to 
their  religion,  and  awaited  with  eagerness  the  coming  of  a  Black- 
gown. 

When  the  Avestern  country  finally  fell  into  the  hands  of  England, 
the  war  of  Pontiac  soon  desolated  the  whole  country,  and  the  In- 
dians were  in  too  excited  a  state  to  hope  for  any  missionary  opera- 
tions, even  had  there  been  priests  to  conduct  them.  The  American 
war  followed,  and  after  its  close  in  1788,  a  new  Indian  war  broke 
out  in  the  West,  so  that  in  fact  Indian  hostilities  continued  with 
slight  interruptions  during  more  than  half  of  the  last  century.  These 
wars  not  only  prevented  any  access  of  missionaries,  but  aho 
served  to  extinguish  the  faith  in  the  hearts  of  the  people.  Deprived 
of  pastors,  constantly  in  motion,  mingling  with  war-parties  of  pagan 
tribes,  and  sharing  in  their  superstitious  rites,  they  soon  relapsed 
into  many  of  the  old  customs  of  their  race. 

Of  this  mission  our  narrative  has  been  less  full  and  edifvin? 
than  we  should  have  wished  ;  but,  last  of  the  old  Jesuit  missions, 
it  arose  but  a  few  years  prior  to  the  publication  of  the  last  Rela- 
tions, and  after  their  close  our  sources  lun  o  been  precarious. 

*  Mc'Cabe,  Gazetteer  of  Wisconsin. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


381 


It  embraced,  as  we  have  seen,  the  Ojibwas  on  Lake  Superior, 
tlie  Ottawas,  who  finally  settled  iu  Michigan,  the  Menomouees  on 
the  river  which  still  beai"s  their  name,  the  Sacs,  Foxes,  Kikapoos, 

Only 


(I  M{ 


I'ound  G 


B{ 


ith  the  W 


agoes. 


iscoutens 

two  langi  nges,  the  Algonquin  and  Dahkota,  prevailed  ;  the  iornior 
ill  various  dialects.  Not  only  have  the  narratives  of  the  mis^^iona- 
ries  perislied,  but  also  the  philological  works  which  they  composed ; 
and  at  this  day  there  is  no  trace  of  any  grammar,  vocabulary, 
catechism,  or  prayer-book,  in  any  of  the  dialects  of  Wisconsin  and 
Michigan. 

On  the  death  of  the  old  missionaiies,  the  Algonquins,  who  are 
great  ramblei's,  frequently  visited  the  Sulpitian  mission  at  the  Lake 
of  the  Two  Mountains,  where  a  small  body  of  Catholic  Algonquins 
still  remain.  At  this  place  they  revived  their  early  knowledge  of 
the  faith,  and,  returning  to  the  West,  kept  religion  alive.  The 
mission  at  the  Lake  may  then  be  considered  as  having  been  in  the 
interval  the  only  sanctuary  of  religion  for  the  western  branches  of 
the  Algic  race.  There  only  could  they  find  the  consolations  of  re- 
ligion ;  there  only  hear  the  truths  of  the  gospel  proclaimed  in  their 
own  tongue.* 


*  Of  these  western  missionaries  brief  notices  can  be  given.  Father  Peter 
Pierson  was  a  native  of  Ath,  in  Ilainaiilt,  where  his  father  was  a  royal  offi- 
cer. He  came  to  Canada  as  a  scholastic  on  the  2r)th  of  September,  1607,  and 
was  for  some  time  a  tutor.  After  his  ordination,  we  find  him  at  Sault  St. 
Louis,  Sillcry,  and  Lorette,  before  going  to  the  AVest. 

Father  Louis  Nicolas,  wlio  appears  in  the  Iroquois  and  Ottawa  missions, 
spent  most  of  his  days  among  the  Montagnais. 

Father  Albanel  had  been  cluiplain  in  expeditions  to  tlie  heart  of  New 
York  and  to  the  snowy  plains  of  Hudson's  Bay,  which  he  was  the  first  to 
seek  overland. 

Silvy  was  also  at  Hudson's  Bay,  and  was  at  various  times  in  the  Sagucnay. 

Father  Eiijiilran  died,  it  is  said,  December  6,  1700. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

THE    OTTAWA    MISSION (CONCLUDED.) 

American  Missions — Tho  Ottawas— Ricliard  at  Marquette's  grave — Petition  of  tlio 
Ottawa  chiefs — Badin — Dejcnn  resident  missionary  at  Arbre  Croclie — Ottawa  yoiitli 
sent  to  Rome  by  Bishop  Fenwiciv — Rlzl' — Barnffa — The  Ecdcmptorlsts  at  Arbre 
Crochc  and  Sault  St.  Mary's — Barnga  and  Viszogsliy  at  Grand  Iliver — Pierz  at  Arbre 
Crociie — Baraga  at  Lapointe— Tiie  Ance — Pierz  at  Grand  Travers  Bay — Proiilx  and 
the  Jesuits  on  the  Canada  side — Skolla — Chippeway  missions  in  Minnesota— Billc- 
court — Lacombe— Barnga  made  Vicar  Apostolic. — Tlie  Menomonkks — Mission  re- 
stored by  Vandcnbroecli — Blonduel  and  liis  labors — llcmovul  of  tribe — Father  Hkollii. 
— Tlic  PoTTAWOTAMiKS — Richard— Itezii — The  chief  Pokegan — Fervor — Badin— His 
labors — Detiseille — His  mission  and  death — Petit  and  Ids  exiled  flock — Edifying  con- 
duct of  tlic  Indians— Death  of  Petit. — The  Winnebac.oes — Mission  of  Mr.  Mazzuclielli 
— Petiot — Persecution  of  tho  missionaries — Cretin — Strange  conduct  of  governineni 
— Cretin  bishop — Canon  Vivaldi. 


I    ! 


f       < 

4       i 


As  the  Catliolic  Church  of  the  United  States  acquired  form 
after  the  close  of  the  Revohition,  the  attention  of  the  first  bishops 
was  drawn  to  the  French  and  Indians  of  the  West.  To  meet 
their  wants  was,  liowever,  a  matter  of  great  difficuUy,  and  it  was 
only  when  the  French  Revolution  made  the  clergy  of  France  wan- 
derers in  foreign  lands,  that  any  hope  existed  for  them. 

Soon  after  the  outbreak  of  that  terrible  war  on  religion,  the 
active  and  laborious  Sulpitian,  Gabriel  Richard,  was  stationed  at 
Detroit.  A  man  of  great  activity  and  zeal,  he  was  eminently 
fitted  for  the  difficult  post.  His  life  may  seem  strange  indeed  to 
many ;  but  though,  as  we  have  said,  founder  and  director  of  the 
first  printing-press  in  Michigan,  and  deputy  to  Congress  from  that 
territory,  he  was  not  the  less  a  laborious  and  zealous  priest,  who 
did  much  for  the  cause  of  religion  in  the  West.  As  early  as  1700 
he  visited  Arbre  Croche,  where  the  Ottawas  of  Mackinaw  then 
were.  The  memory  of  the  Jesuit  missionaries  w^as  still  fresh. 
Tradition  had  handed  down  the  death  of  Marquette,  invested  with 


FRENCH  MISSIONS. 


383 


ornaments  of  romance,  and  many  were  yet  alivo  who  could  point 
to  tlio  favorite  walk  trodden  by  Dii  Jaunay  while  reciting-  his  bre- 
viar}'.  But,  unfortunately,  little  else  remained.  One  only  of  tho 
tribe,  a  man  of  seventy-five,  had  been  baptized.*  Several  years 
(lapsed  without  Richard's  being  able  to  return,  although  often  in- 
vited by  the  Indians.f  When  the  Episcopal  See  of  Cincinujiti 
was  erected,  and  Michigan  attached  to  it,  steps  were  at  last  taken 
to  give  the  Ottawas  a  pastor.  Richard  visited  the  shores  of  Mi- 
chigan again  in  1821,  and  was  conducted  by  the  Indians  to  the 
spot  where  Marquette  had  been  first  buried,  and  Avhere,  as  Richard 
supposed,  his  remains  still  lay.  To  honor  the  founder  of  Macki- 
naw, he  raised  a  wooden  cross  at  the  spot  in  the  presence  of  eight 
Ottawas  and  three  Frenchmen,  and  with  his  penknife  cut  on  the 
humble  monument,  the  only  one  ever  raised  to  the  honor  of  the 
Discoverer  of  the  Mississippi : 

"  Fr.  Jh.  Marquct. 
Died  here  9th  May,  1675." 

He  celebrated  mass  at  the  spot  on  the  following  Sunday,  and 
pronounced  the  eulogitlm  of  the  missionary  to  whom  tradition 
still  attributes  miraculous  gifts. 

After  this  passing  visit,  the  Ottawa  chiefs,  more  anxious  than 
ever  to  have  missionaries,  as  their  fathers  had,  addressed  to  Con- 
gress the  following  petition : 

"  We,  the  undersigned,  chiefs,  heads  of  families,  and  others,  of 
the  tribe  of  Ottaw\as,  residing  at  Arbre  Croche,  on  the  east  bank  of 
Lake  Michigan,  take  this  means  to  communicate  to  our  father, 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  our  requests  and  w^ants.  We 
thank  our  father  and  Congress  for  all  the  eflforts  they  have  made 
to  draw  us  to  civilization,  and  the  knowledge  of  Jesus,  redeemer 
of  the  red  man  aid  white.  Trusting  in  your  paternal  goodness, 
we  claim  liberty  of  conscience,  and  beg  you  to  grant  us  a  master 


Ann.  Prop.  iii.  33S. 


t  Ann.  Proj:>.  ii.  50. 


884 


AMERICAN   OATHOiJC   MISSIONS. 


!       i       ! 


i 

1 


or  minister  of  the  gospel,  belonging  to  the  same  society  as  the 
members  of  the  Catholic  Society  of  St.  Ignatius,  formerly  estah- 
jished  at  Michilimackinac  and  Arbre  Croche  by  Father  Marquetto 
and  other  missionaries  of  the  order  of  Jesuits.  They  resided  long 
veal's  among  us.  They  cultivated  a  field  on  our  territory  to  teacli 
us  the  principles  of  agriculture  and  Christianity. 

"  Since  that  time  we  have  always  desired  similar  ministers.  If 
you  grant  us  them,  we  will  invite  them  to  live  on  the  same  ground 
formerly  occupied  by  Father  Du  Jaunay,  on  the  banks  of  Lake 
Michigan,  near  our  village  of  Arbre  Croche. 

"If  you  grant  this  humble  request  of  your  faithful  children, 
they  will  be  eternally  grateful,  and  will  pray  the  great  Spirit  to 
pour  forth  his  blessings  on  the  whites. 

"  In  faith  hereof,  we  have  set  our  names  this  day,  August  12, 

1823. 

"  Hawk,  Crane,  Bear, 

Fish,  Eagle,  Stag."* 

Caterpillar,  Flying-fish, 

Fearing  lest  even  this  should  fail,  Magiti  Pinsingo,  the  Ottawa 
chief,  four  months  after,  again  addressed  the  President,  but  no 
steps  were  taken  to  make  any  provision  for  a  missionary .f 

In  1825,  they  were  visited  by  Rev.  J.  V.  Badin.  Hearing  of  his 
approach,  they  erected  with  their  hatchets  a  log-chapel,  covered 
with  bark,  and  lined  with  planks.  This  Mr.  Badin  blessed  on 
the  19th  of  July,  dedicating  it  to  St.  Vincent  of  Paul.  On  the 
following  day  he  read  a  letter  from  Mr.  Richard,  in  reply  to  tliose 
of  their  chiefs,  and  delivered  to  the  eldest  a  silver  raedal.J  After 
a  short  stay,  he  visited  other  posts — Drummond  Island,  Mackinaw, 
Sault  St.  Mary's,  and  Green  Bay — reviving  in  all  their  desire  for 
Catholic  missionaries.  Returning  in  the  following  September  to 
Arbre  Croche,  he  again  ministered  to  their  wants,  officiating  in 

*  Ann.  Prop.  ii.  100.         t  Ann.  Prop.  ii.  102.         X  Ann.  Prop.  ii.  127. 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


885 


day,  August  12, 


Inn.  Prop.  ii.  127. 


the  rudo  obapel,  baptizing  thirty  children  and  adults,  five  of  whom 
made  their  first  conimunion.  The  chiefs  deHvered  him  lettei-s,  in 
their  style,  for  Mr.  liichard,  which  were  published  in  the  Annales 
of  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith. 

During  his  short  stay,  Mr.  Badin  also  preached  in  English  to 
the  soldiei's  under  Major  Clark,  then  stationed  there.*  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  lie  renewed  his  visit ;  and  Richard,  at  Washington, 
endeavored  to  obtain  the  government  pennisvsion  for  a  missionaiy. 
The  Secretary  at  War  at  last  agreed  to  bear  two-thirds  of  the  out- 
lay for  buildings  for  educational  purposes,  and  allow  twenty  dol- 
lars for  each  child  instructed.  By  his  zeal,  too,  Badin  inspired  two 
good  ladies  of  Mackinaw  to  ofier  their  services  as  teachers  of  the 
InJian  girls,  and  his  great  object  now  was  to  induce  the  Jesuits  to 
return  to  the  former  possessions  of  their  society.  Arbre  Croche 
was  thus  formed  as  a  mission  station  ;  and  though  Badin  failed  in 
securing  the  former  laborere,  he  soon  found  a  man  fitted  for  the 
task. 

Mr.  Dejean,  a  priest  of  the  diocese  of  Rhodez,  after  some  years' 
stay  on  Huron  River,  was  now  sent  to  Arbre  Croche ;  but  before 
his  arrival,  the  news  spread  that  a  missionary  was  to  reside  there, 
and  Catholic  Indians  began  to  flock  in.  Assaguinac,  a  pupil  of 
the  Sulpitians  at  the  Lake  of  the  Two  Mountains,!  just  appointed 
chief  at  Drummond's  Island,  renounced  his  post  and  its  English 
pension  to  come  to  Arbre  Croche.  Though  disappointed  at  find- 
ing no  priest,  he  remained,  became  by  his  influence  a  chief,  and 
began  to  catechize  the  people,  and  teach  them  hymns. J 

AVheu  Dejean  an-ived  at  Mackinaw,  in  1827,  six  Indians  came 
for  him,  and  took  him  to  the  village.     Here  he  found  much  done 

*  Ann.  Prop,  ii,  99. 

t  Besides  the  Iroquois  mission  hero,  there  is  an  Aln^onquin  one  also  di 
reeled  by  tlie  Sulpitians.     It  has  been  in  a  measure  the  cradle  of  the  western 
Algonquin  missions  in  the  present  century;  its  documents,  catechisms,  vo- 
cabularies, hymns,  and  prayers  havinfr  been  the  basis  on  which  the  other 
missionaries  worked.  X  Ann.  Prop.  iii.  344. 

17 


■■A  t 


380 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


J! 


by  tlie  z<  il  of  Assaguiiuic.  Twenty-one  were  prepared  for  bap- 
tism, wliicli  was  now  conforretl.  The  number  of  Christians  had 
by  this  time  become  about  one  hundred  and  fifty.  The  rest  of 
tlie  tiibe,  about  four  hundred  and  fifty,  sliowed  every  inclination 
to  embrace  the  faitli.  Tliree  chiefs  even  gave  up  tlieir  inediciin'- 
l)af]fs,  and  asked  to  be  instructed. 

In  1820,  Mr.  Dejean  was  again  there  ;*  and  finding  one  hundred 
and  thirty  catechumens,  of  all  ages,  suflficiently  instructed,  bap- 
tized them.  As  his  visit  was  but  short,  lie  named  seven  catechists, 
and  urged  the  Christians  to  cabin  apart,  as  the  pagans  now 
showed  much  opposition. 

Having  laid  out  tlieir  new  village,  they  renewed  their  entroatios 
for  a  pastor,  and  the  Dominican  Bishop  Fenwick  at  last,  in  May, 
1829,  sent  Mr.  Dejean  to  reside  permanently  there,  and  in  liis 
diocesan  visit  stopped  at  Arbre  Croclie,  to  the  great  joy  of  the 
Ottawas.f  As  he  neared  the  shore  in  his  canoe,  he  was  received 
by  the  tribe,  who  came  in  procession,  headed  by  Assaguinac,  and 
all  knelt  to  receive  his  benediction,  then  led  him  to  their  chapel, 
where  they  recited  their  evening  prayers.  Tlie  next  day  he  began 
his  mission,  for  such,  in  reality,  his  visit  was,  and,  with  the  clergy- 
man who  attended  him,  spent  some  time  in  instructing,  confessing, 
baptizing,  confirming,  and  marrying.  A  temperance  society, 
already  established,  was  approved ;  the  labors  of  the  excellent 
ladies,  Misses  Bailie  and  Williams,  in  instructing  the  women,  were 
encouraged  ;  the  attempts  of  Mr.  Ferry,  a  Presbyterian  minister  at 
Mackinaw,  defeated.  This  visit  convinced  the  bishop  of  the  neces- 
sity of  a  Catholic  missionary  on  the  Lake,  to  save  the  Indians 
from  being  led  astray,  and  he  even  resolved  to  try  and  form  Indian 
priests.J 

On  the  29th  of  October,  1829,  Dejean  wrote:  "My  desires 
are  at  last  fulfilled.     Here  I  am  stationed  since  June  among  the 

*  Ann.  Prop.  iv.  465.         t  Ann.  Prop.  iv.  486.        X  Cftth.  Mag.  yl.  M- 


s. 


FRENX'H   MISSIONS. 


387 


repared  for  bap- 
if  Cliristians  had 
fty.  The  rest  of 
every  inehnation 
-)  their  inecliciiic- 

lino'  one  humlred 
'■  instructed,  hap- 
seven  catechists, 
ilie  pagans  now 

d  their  entroatios 

at  last,  in  May, 

here,  and  in  liis 

great  joy  of  the 

,  he  was  received 

Assaguinae,  and 

1  to  their  chapel, 

xt  day  he  bcijan 

with  the  clerc:}- 

cting,  confessing, 

perance   society, 

of  the  excellent 

he  women,  were 

erian  minister  at 

lop  of  the  neces- 

ave  the  Indians 

and  form  Indian 

e  :  "  My  desires 
Tune  among  the 

ith.  Mag.  yl,  PS- 


Indians  of  Arbre  Croche.  Already  eighty-five,  chiefly  adults,  have 
received  baptism,  five  of  the  number  being  over  eighty-one.  A 
house  46  feet  long  by  20  wide,  and  a  church  54  by  30,  have  been 
built  of  wood.  .  .  .  My  good  Indians  have  worked  with  zeal  'and 


courage. 


Schools  were  also  begun,  and  thus,  ut  last,  a  regular  Indian 
mission  was  established  in  the  tribe,  which  Meiuuxl  had  first 
labored  to  convert.  Besides  this,  the  bishop  had  two  Ottawa  boys, 
William  Maccodabinasse  and  Auguste  llamelin,  whom  he  was 
carefully  educating,  in  the  intention  of  sending  them  to  the  Pro- 
paganda, that,  if  they  showed  avocation,  they  might,  as  priests, 
labor  among  their  countrymen.*  Both  finally  proceeded  to 
Rome,  where  they  were  received  by  the  Pope  with  every  mark  of 
esteem,  and  began  their  studies  ;  but  William  died,  and  Auguste 
returned  to  his  tribe. 

The  Ottawa  mission  was  thus  restored.  The  Church  could  now 
advance  to  new  conquests.  Other  tribes  which  had  been  con- 
verted bv  the  old  missionaries  were  next  to  be  recalled.  In  the 
month  of  July,  1830,  the  Rev.  Frederic  Reze,  afterwards  Bishop 
of  Detroit,  was  sent  to  visit  the  vaiious  Indian  tiibes  in  the  North- 
west. He  first  reached  the  Pottawotamies  of  St.  Joseph,f  then 
under  the  Rev.  Stephen  T.  Badin.  Proceeding  then  to  Sault  St. 
Maiy's,  he  for  a  time  administered  the  sacraments  to  the  French 
and  Chippeways ;  thence,  by  way  of  Mackinaw,  he  reached  Green 
Bay.  Here  he  baptized  a  considerable  number  of  Menomonees, 
already  instructed  in  the  faith  by  F.  Mazzuchelli,  who  had  a  school 
in  operation,  and  a  church  erecting.  While  liere,  Mr.  Reze  was 
invited  by  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  to  visit  their  villages.  The  inhabi- 
tants of  Wisconsin  thus  showed  a  desire  to  enjoy  once  more  the 
blessings  of  religion,  to  which  they  had  at  first  turned  a  deaf  ear.J 


%     -  il 


*  Ann.  Prop.  v.  521,  vi.  180 ;  Cath.  Church  in  Ohio ;  Cath.  Mag.  vi.  98. 
+  As  to  St.  Joseph's,  see  Illinois  mission. 
X  Ann.  Prop.  vi.  147 ;  U.  S.  Cath.  Mag.  264. 


888 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


II  i 


■ ,  !■ 


M  - 


i/t 


Dojean,  meanwhile,  fulvancod  rapitUy  at  Arbre  Crocho.  Within 
a  year  he  had  received  six  hundred  into  the  churoh;  a  prayer-book 
had  been  eoini)iied  and  printed ;  twenty  conilbrtable  log-cabins 
had  been  erected  around  the  chuich  ;  the  schools  for  boys  and  girls 
contained  sixty-four  pupils.  Intoxication  was  banislu'd  from  tlio 
village,  and,  as  a  natural  consequence,  all  wore  an  air  of  gieai(  r 
comfort.* 

The  government  now  allowed  one  thousand  dollars  a  year  lur 
this  school,  that  of  the  Menomonees  at  Green  Bay,  and  of  the 
Pottawotamies ;  so  that  even  though  this  bounty  should  continue 
but  a  few  years,  it  wouKl  give  a  permanent  foundation  to  thorn 
all.f 

In  May,  1831,  Dejean  was  replaced  by  the  Rev.  Ferdinand 
Baraga,  a  native  of  Dalmatia,  now  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Upper  Miohi- 
gan.  A  man  of  great  energy  and  activity,  he  soon  extended  his 
missions  to  the  Beaver  Islands,  and  even  beyond  Lake  Michigan, 
erecting  chapels  in  various  parts.  In  one  year  he  baptized  20C 
Indians,  137  of  whom  were  afterwards  confirmed  by  Bishop  Fen- 
wick,  who  here  found  his  greatest  consolation.  The  parish  of  St. 
Peter's  at  Arbre  Croche  now  contained  700  Catholic  Indians.^ 

The  mission  at  Green  Bay  was  now  undertaken  by  the  children 
of  St.  Alphonsus  Liguori.§  The  Redemptorists,  under  Father  Si- 
mon Sandrel,  here  began  their  first  Indian  mission  in  the  country. 
Sandrel  soon  after  devoted  himself  at  Arbre  Croche  with  zeal  to  the 
study  of  the  Ottawa,  analyzing  it  to  compile  a  grammar  and  dic- 
tionary. Another  of  the  some  order.  Father  Francis  Iletschor, 
raised  a  bark-chapel  at  Sault  St.  Mary's,  and  gathered  the  Chiitpe- 
w.iys  around  him.  At  Green  Bay,  Mazzuchelli  and  Vandenbroeck 
directed  the  mission,  extending  their  labors  to  the  Menomonees  and 
Winnebagoes.     Reze  had  now  been  created  Bishop  of  Detroit: 


*  Ann.  Prop.  vi.  147 ;  U.  S.  Cath.  Mag.  264. 
t  Id.  vi.  197. 


t  Ann.  Prop.  vi.  179. 
§  Id.  203. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


389 


attached  to  his  Indian  missions,  lie  visited  tliem  in  1835.  Arbre 
(roclie  could  then  boast  ofsixtv-one  houses  and  1200  inhabitantvS, 
all  temperate,  industrious,  and  well  instructed,  almost  all  being  able 
to  read  and  ■write ;  still  nomadic,  but,  by  their  number  of  succursal 
tliapels,  never  depnved  of  their  religion. 

At  Sault  St.  Mary's  a  fanatical  opposition  prevented  the  Catholic 
missionaries  from  erecting  a  brick  church  on  the  Indian  reserve, 
but  the  Chippeways  were  attached  to  Catholicity,  and  rejected  all 
aHurenicnts  of  the  various  missionarv  societies.* 

Baraga  meanwhile  had  proceeded,  in  1833,  to  Grand  Kiver, 
where  a  Baptist  mission,  after  eight  years'  struggle,  had  failed.  By 
1835  he  had  200  Catholics;  but  so  great  was  the  opposition  to 
liiiii,  that  several  attempts  were  made  on  his  life,  and  lie  was  at 
times  obliged  to  shut  liimself  up.  Failing  by  this  even  to  alarm 
him,  his  pereecutors  petitioned  government  for  his  removal,  and, 
though  the  governor  of  Michigan  wrote  in  his  favor,  Baraga  was 
coinpelled  to  return  to  Arbre  Croclie,  succeeded  at  Grand  River  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Viszogsky.  lie,  too,  had  to  contend  with  the  same 
opposition,  but  remained  firm. 

Mr.  Baraga  was  about  to  proceed  to  a  new  mission  on  Lake 
Superior;  but  as  Father  Sandrel,  after  two  years  stay  at  Arbre 
Croche,  was  recalled  by  his  Superior  at  Vienna,  Baraga  repaired  to 
his  former  mission.f  Some  time  after  it  passed  to  the  care  of  the 
Rev.  Francis  Pierz,  who  for  many  years  directed  it  with  great 
ability,  extending  his  care  to  Sault  St.  Mary's  and  Mackinaw. 

On  leaving  Arbre  Croche,  the  unwearied  Baraga  proceeded  to  the 
southern  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  and  halting  at  the  spot  where 
Allouez  had  begun  his  mission  nearly  two  centuries  before,  at  La 
Pointe  du  St.  Esprit,  now  simply  called  Lapointe,  began  a  new 
mission.  After  extraordinary  eftbrts  and  struggling  against  all  sorts 
of  obstacles,  privations,  and  difficulticvs,  he  succeeded  in  establishing 


ft-: 


*  Ann.  Prop.  viii.  293. 


+  Id.  viii.  808. 


390 


AMEIUCAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


'  ; 

l;|ii;! 

1 

i'^    \ 

* 

t 
1 

mff' 

; 

' 

H 

-  ! }  i 

:      I 


a  missionary  station.  Tlore  ho  built  a  cliurch,  mission-house,  and 
(hvcllini^s  for  tiio  converted  Indians.* 

Kight  years  after  he  (juitted  it,  and  repaired  to  the  Ance,  win  re 
an  Indian  viihigo  hay,  steeped  in  idolatry  and  intoxication.  Ills 
61*81  eflorts  were  unavailinijf,  but,  gainin*^  the  children,  he  soon 
began  to  make  progress.  A  medicine-man  was  soon  converted : 
liis  example  had  a  powerful  ett'ect,  and  the  mission  village  rapidly 
increased.  By  1849  it  con  ained  42  families;  by  the  followinL,' 
year  not  a  single  pagan  was  left,  and  the  tribe  which,  by  vice,  had 
been  reduced  to  a  mere  liandful,  now  sober,  industrious,  in  com- 
fortable houses,  began  rapidly  to  improve.  Their  families  became 
more  numerous,  their  children  healthy,  the  church  and  school- 
liouse  both  well  attended.  For  over  fourteen  months  prior  to 
August,  1850,  not  one  death  occurred  at  the  mission.  The  pagans 
around  saw  the  change,  and  many  joined  the  village  at  the  Ance. 
At  the  present  time  the  Ance  contains  upwards  of  three  hundred 
converted  Indians,  directed  by  Mr.  Angelus  Van  Picmel. 

Pierz,  on  his  side,  extended  his  Ottawa  mission  :  Sheboygan, 
Manistie,  and  Castor  Island,  became  regular  stiitions;  and,  in  1845, 
a  new  mission  was  beguu  at  Grand  Traverse  Bay,  while  Arbro 
Croche,  with  Middletown  and  La  Croix,  its  fii-st  offshoots,  gradually 
increased  in  numbere  without  diminishing  in  fervor.  Besides 
Baraga  and  Pierz,  the  Rev.  Ignatius  Mrak  and  Otho  Skolla  have 
for  several  years  labored  in  this  Ottawa  and  Chippeway  field,  f  a- 
ther  Skolla  is  a  Franciscan.  He  succeeded  Baraga  at  Lapoiuto  iu 
1849,  and  had  care  of  Fond  du  Lac,  Pigeon  River,  and  even  the 
pagans  on  Lake  Courte-oreille  and  Flambeaux.  Some  years  after, 
however,  most  of  the  Indians  and  half-breeds  were  removed  beyond 
the  Mississippi,  and  Skolla  has  became  the  missionaiy  of  tlie  Meno- 
monees,  visiting,  however,  his  old  post.  Meanwhile,  about  1838, 
Mr.  Proulx,  a  zealous  Canadian  priest,  restored  the  mission  on  Isle 


*  Letter  of  Bishop  Baraga. 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


891 


vsion-houso,  and 


Manitoulino,  and,  in  1844,  Father  Clione,  of  the  Society  of  Jeaus, 
soon  followed  by  otliei"8,  extended  the  sphere  of  action  and  good  to 
the  furtherest  extremity  of  Lake  Superior.  Sault  St.  Mary's  has 
been  for  some  time  under  tlio  care  of  one  of  the  Jesuit  Fathers 
connected  with  the  Canada  mission.* 

In  1852,  Pierz  was  succeeded  by  the  Kev.  Eugene  Jahan,  and, 
leaving  Arbro  (Jroche,  hastened  himself  to  a  new  Chippeway  Held. 

Besides  these  missions  a  new  class  began  by  emigration  from 
Canada.  The  Abbo,  now  Bishop  Provenchore,  was  sent,  in  181 8,f 
to  liod  Kiver,  near  tlie  American  border ;  and  finding  the  tribe  of 
Cliippeways  and  halt-breeds  divided,  stationed  his  companion,  M.  Du- 
luoulin,  at  Pembina,  but  he  had  to  leave  it  in  1823,  as  it  was  found 
to  be  in  the  United  States.  George  A.  de  Bellecourt,  in  1833,  began 
a  new  Indian  mission  on  St.  Boniface  Kiver  ;J  but,  as  I'embiua  again 
attracted  the  half-breeds  and  Indians,  they  again  entered  Minnesota, 
and  began  a  settlement  at  that  spot.  Bellecouit,  who  knew  them, 
also  entered  the  country  in  184G.  I'embina  seemed  to  him  the 
point  for  central  missions :  the  Cliippeways,  though  pagans,  awaited 
him  earnestly ;  but  having  no  powei's  from  the  Bishop  of  Dubuque, 
ill  whose  diocese  he  now  was,  he  did  not  undertake  any  ministry 
till  he  received  them.§  Five  hundred  soon  gathered  here  around 
liis  church  of  the  Assumption,  and  he  thence,  for  several  years, 
aided  by  the  Rev.  Albert  Lacombe,  visited  many  scattered  tiibes, 
amid  great  hardship  and  danger,  drawn  by  dogs  over  the  snow. 
Ill  1852,  Lacombe  succeeded  also  in  establishing  a  mission  among 
the  Mandans,  which  has  not  yet,  however,  acquired  permanence. 
Meanwhile  the  town  of  Pembina  grew  up,  twenty  miles  from  the 
mission,  and  soon  had  a  population  of  1500  Catholics,  chiefly  half- 
hreeds.  This  now  became  Bellecourt's  chief  station,  whence  he 
visited  the  Assumption.     Many  Cliippeways  were  to  be  found 


*  Ann.  Prop,  xviii.  449. 
t  Id.  ix.  352. 


+  Id.  xxi.  77. 

§  U.  S.  Cath.  Mupr.  vii.  827. 


892 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


^  I 


■  il 


1 

f 

1  ■ 
If    : 

I 

1} 

J 

', 

r 

nroiincl  Millc  Lars ;  amoiij;^  thcso  Piprz,  on  loavincr  Lake  Michigan, 
fixed  his  rcHidoncc,  aiul  o.stablislicd  a  mission  at  (Jrow  Wing,  wheii! 
tho  log-chajK'!  of  St.  Francis  Xavler  s(H)n  rose.  Hero  250  Catholics 
reside,  and  many  more  Sandy  Lake,  Chippeway,  and  Sa(^  Uapid  In- 
dians are  also  Catholics. 

Such  is  the  stato  of  tlie  Ottawa-Ciiippewa  mission  at  present, 
greater  in  reality  than  it  ever  was  in  the  most  flourishing 
times  of  the  old  Jesuit  Fathei-s.  To  confirm  and  extend  it,  tho 
Holy  Father  has  recently  appointed  the  Kev.  Mr.  Baraga,  Bishop 
of  Aniyzonia  and  V'icar- Apostolic  of  Up]>er  Michigan.  Ue  has 
fixed  his  I'esidence  at  Sault  St.  Mary's,  and  most  of  the  missions  \\q 
have  mentioned  are  in  his  diocese,  or  have  been  placed  under  his 
control  l)y  tiio  neighboring  Bishops. 

We  have  already  seen  that  tlio  Menomonees,  another  of  the 
tiibes  evangelized  by  Allouez  of  old,  had  been  visited  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Kezo  in  1830,*  and  that  a  church  was  erected  and  a  school 
begun  by  Mr.  Mazzuchelli,  so  that  several  were  ready  for  confirma- 
tion at  Bishop  Fenwick's  visit.f  No  permanent  mission,  however, 
was  established  till  1843,  when  the  Rev.  T.  Vandenbroeck  extended 
his  labors  to  them,  althougli  an  Indian  school  had  been  in  opera- 
tion for  some  time  previous.^  In  the  following  year  the  same 
clergyman  began  the  new  mission  of  St.  Francis^  on  Wolf's  River 
or  Lake  Powahegan,  which,  in  1846,  numbered  four  hundred  In- 
dians, with  a  good  church  and  school.  He  was  soon  after  suc- 
ceeded by  the  active  and  enterpnsing  Flavien  J.  Blouduel,  who 
jidded  a  second  school.  In  1 850,  the  Menomonees  were  enumer- 
ated at  five  hundred  souls.  All  were  agriculturists;  fifty-seven 
families  living  in  substantial  log-houses.  The  government  agent 
reported  that  they  were  the  most  numerous  and  interesting  tribe 
in  his  department,  and  speaks  in  high  terms  of  the  wonderful  im- 


*  Annales  de  la  Prop.  vi.  148. 
t  U.S. Catholic  Almanac,  18 U. 


t  Id.  vi.  182,  204,  297. 


^nko  Michignn, 

V  Wing,  who  10 

!  250  Catholics 

Sa(!  Uapid  ln- 

on  at  present, 
5st  nourish  i  II  ij 
extend  it,  tiio 
3araga,  Hishop 
ligau.  lie  has 
he  missions  we 
aced  under  his 

another  of  the 
ed  by  the  Rev. 
d  and  a  school 
y  for  coutirina- 
ssion,  however, 
oeck  extended 
been  in  opera- 
year  the  same 
»  Wolf's  River 
ir  hundred  In- 
,oon  after  suc- 
llonduel,  who 
were  enumer- 
its;  fifty-seven 
rnment  agent 
,terestin2r  tribe 
wonderful  im- 

52,  204,  297. 


FRKNCH   MISSIONS. 


393 


provenient  wiiieh  tliey  had  inad»'  under  the  missionaries.  Tiio 
iujpn'ssion  ina<i«'  on  the  whites  was  ti'It  by  the  jiagaii  Menoinonees, 
« )siii<erenniew,  brother  (»f  the  Christian  chief  U.shkosh,  joined  tlio 
Ciiristian  party,  and  wa«  followed  by  a  considcrahlo  nuinlM-r. 
Kills,  the  agent,  had  exprcssi'd  the  hope  that  they  would  not  be 
•listurbed.  This  was  not  to  In-  so.  Trcparations  for  thrir  removal 
were  made  in  the  following  year.  Seventy  families  tlu'n  resided 
there.  Among  these,  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  jK-rsons  were 
niembei's  of  a  temperance  society;  on*;  hundred  and  twenty  could 
read  Ojibwa  and  Ottawa  books.  Two  hundred  Testaments  and 
other  books  in  those  dialects  had  been  distributed  among  them. 
The  Sunday-schools  for  young  and  old  were  well  attended. 

So  happy  a  state  of  things  made  a  distant  removal  almost  cer- 
tainly ruinous.  By  the  exertions  of  the  missionary,  they  were  jxir- 
niitted  by  the  general  government  and  that  of  Wisconsin  to  settle, 
in  1852,  on  a  tract  between  the  Oconto  and  Wolf  Rivers.  Here, 
on  the  banks  of  Lake  Showano,  the  mission  and  school  arose 
under  the  invocation  of  St.  Michael,  and  Blonduel  resigned  to 
Father  Otho  SkoUa  the  mission  which  he  had  created. 

Another  tribe  evangelized  by  the  old  Jesuits  on  this  mission  was 
the  Pottawotamies.  A  part  of  these,  with  some  Miamis,  had,  as 
we  have  seen,  settled  on  St.  Joseph's  River.  These,  like  all  the 
other  western  tribes,  attracted  the  attention  of  Mr.  Richard.  Reze 
was  sent  to  them,  and  arrived  early  in  July,  1830,  at  the  village. 
As  soon  as  the  Pottawotamies  knew  that  a  Black-gown  was  really 
there,  all  begun  to  gather  around  his  cabin,  pitching  their  tents 
hard  by,  not  to  lose  his  words.  Many  solicited  baptism.  All 
sought  to  show  their  desire  to  embrace  the  religion  which  had 
been  preached  to  their  fathers.  Reze  baptized  Pokegann,  the 
chief,  and  twelve  others  whose  past  conduct  seemed  to  promise 
perseverance.  At  the  end  of  the  ceremony,  they  held  a  council  to 
decide  on  a  place  for  a  chapel.  They  finally  decided  to  ask  the 
Baptist  ministers  stationed  there  to  leave,  and  give  up  the  mission- 

17* 


394 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


ij  h. 


lioiiso  to  a  Catholic  missionary  at  the  expiration  of  a  montli.* 
IlavinfT  found  all  their  etforts  useless,  the  Baptist  missionaries 
agreed  to  the  proposal. 

Kozo's  mission  could  not  be  permanent,  and  he  soon  left.  I*ok(.'- 
gann  was  inconsolable,  lie  rcpaii'ed  to  Detroit  on  the  1st  of 
July,  1830.  "Father!  Father!"  he  exclaimed,  "I  come  to  ben- 
you  to  give  ua  a  Black-gown  to  teach  us  the  word  of  God.  W'v 
are  ready  to  give  up  whisky  and  all  our  barbarous  customs.  Thou 
dost  not  send  as  a  Black-gown,  and  tliou  bast  often  promised  us 
one.  What!  must  we  live  and  die  in  our  ignorance?  If  thou 
hast  no  pity  on  us  men,  take  pity  on  our  poor  children,  who  will 
live  as  we  have  lived,  in  ignorance  and  vice.  We  are  left  deaf 
and  blind,  steeped  in  ignorance,  although  we  earnestly  desire  to  be 
instructed  in  the  faith.  Father,  draw  us  from  the  fire — the  fiic 
of  the  wicked  manitou.  An  American  minister  wished  to  draw 
us  to  his  religion,  but  neither  I  nor  any  of  the  village  would  send 
our  children  to  his  school,  nor  go  to  his  meetings.  We  have  pre- 
served the  way  of  prayer  taught  our  ancestor  by  the  Black-gown 
who  used  to  be  at  St.  Joseph.  Every  night  and  morning  my 
wife  and  children  pray  togetlier  before  a  crucifix  which  thou  hast 
given  us,  and  on  Sunday  we  pray  oftener.  T>vo  days  before  Sun- 
day we  fast  till  evening,  men,  women,  and  children,  according  to 
the  tradition  of  our  fathers  and  mothers,  as  we  have  never  our- 
selves seen  Black-gowns  at  St.  Joseph." 

Touched  by  this  appeal,  Richard  resolved  to  send  the  Rev. 
Stephen  T.  Badin  to  them,  promising  not  to  remove  him  till 
he  found  another.  That  missionary  was  at  his  post  in  August. 
Twenty-four  were  soon  enrolled  for  instruction  and  baptism.  Too 
old  to  learn  the  language,  he  nevertheless  began  to  take  down  from 
Pokeganu's  lips  the  prayers  and  commandments  as  preserved  by 
tradition.     So  destitute  was  he,  that  he  had  not  even  an  altar 


Ann.  Prop,  vi  148. 


FRENXH   MISSIONS. 


395 


n,  according  to 
lave  never  oiu- 


stono  to  say  mass,  but  nevertheless  was  cheeiful  in  his  privations. 
The  Kikapoos  in  Illinois  sent  to  ask  him  to  extend  his  labore  to 
tlicni.*  Miss  Campo,  an  excellent  lady,  acquainted  with  the  In- 
dian language,  soon  joined  liim,  to  lighten  his  labors,  acting  as  his 
interpreter,  and  teaching  the  young  the  Christian  doctrine.f 

In  the  winter  he  proceeded  to  Chicago,  which  Lad  not  seen  a 
piicst  for  eight  years.  Here  he  was  met  by  the  Kikapoos,  who 
again  earnestly  implored  his  care.  They  were  now  a  petty  band 
on  a  prairie  by  Vermilion  River, J  most  of  the  nation  having  been 
transported.     But  he  could  not  leave  his  Pottawotamie  mission. 

On  the  withdrawal  of  the  Baptists  from  St.  Joseph,  tlie  govern- 
ment agent  took  possession  of  the  mission,  although  it  had  been 
built  from  funds  expressly  reserved,  by  the  request  of  the  Indians, 
for  a  Catholic  mission.  Badin  accordingly  bought  a  house,  25 
feet  by  19,  for  a  chapel,  and  fifty  acres  of  land  two  miles  from  it, 
near  Pokegann's  house,  leaving  the  old  mission-house  in  the  hands 
of  the  government. 

Pokegann  and  his  wife,  heirs  of  the  Catholic  traditions  and  vir- 
tues of  the  tribe,  were  his  greatest  consolation,  by  their  piety,  zeal, 
and  devotedness.  All  showed  great  docility.  Men  of  thirty  and 
forty  came  to  kneel  at  the  feet  of  the  chief  morning  and  evening, 
to  learn  their  prayers  like  little  children. 

Badin's  first  labor  was  to  restore  the  prayere  which  had  become, 
lie  found,  greatly  corrupted ;  then  instruct  in  them  such  as  present- 
ed themselves,  or  as  he  found  disposed  in  his  visits  to  the  cabins. 
The  work  of  conversion  thus  went  on.  By  Januaiy  he  counted 
three  hundred  Christians,  all  of  whom  confessed  regularly,  besides 
a  hundred  children  and  adults  baptized.  As  he  baptized  none  ex- 
cept on  sufficient. trial,  he  relied  perfectly  on  their  fidelity  in  keep- 


*  Ann.  Prop.  iv.  540. 
t  Id.  vi.  148 ;  U.  S.  Cath.  Hag.  vii.  264. 
I  Called  at  times  Vermilion  and  Prairie  Indians. 
Ma.^coutens. 


They  are  probably  the 


396 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


h 


ing  the  promises  which  they  made  to  God.  Their  hte  was  indeed 
truly  Christian,  and  worthy  of  their  being  allowed  frequently  to 
approach  the  holy  table.  Their  influence  on  the  pagans  was  soon 
felt,  and  many,  desirous  to  renounce  their  dissolute  habits,  came  to 
jisk  instruction  and  bapusm. 

But  he  was  not  without  his  afflictions.  During  the  winter  one 
of  his  earliest  converts,  the  fervent  James,  died  in  the  v.'oods  on  a 
hunting-party,  which  the  general  scarcity  compelled  him  to  follow, 
though  sinking  in  a  consumption.  The  missionary  himself  suffered 
in  the  general  want,  but  this  never  elicited  the  slightest  complaint 
from  him.*  He  was  soon  after  joined  by  Messrs.  de  Selles  and 
Boheme,  and,  aided  by  contributions  from  Europe,  began  to  give 
solidity  to  his  mission.f 

Badin's  stay,  however,  was  only  temporary.  The  bishop  found 
a  missionary  for  the  tribe  in  the  Belgian,  Mr.  Desseille,  ready  to 
follow  them  in  theii  intended  removal,  for  the  government  was 
about  to  deport  tliem.J  The  missionary  extended  his  visits  to 
Chitchakos  and  another  town  on  Tippecanoe  River,  in  1834,  bap- 
tized several,  and  planted  a  cross  at  Yellow  River.  He  returned 
the  next  year ;  and  Brute,  Bishop  of  Vincennes,  about  the  same 
time  reached  both  stations,  and  confinned  some  at  the  latter,  which 
was  in  his  diocese.  At  Tippecanoe  the  greatest  joy  prevailed. 
The  Indians,  then  scattered,  came  from  all  sides  and  encamped 
around  the  missionary,  to  whom  they  offered  ground  for  a  church 
and  school.  In  ten  days  Desseille  baptized  forty-three  adults,  and 
admitted  to  their  first  communion  thirty  baptized  the  previous 
year.  Proceeding  thence  to  Yellow  River,  where  he  had  already 
planted  the  cross,  he  found  a  little  chapel  raised,  and  the  people 
anxious  to  enjoy  his  ministry .§ 

Desseille  continued  his  labore  zealously,  in  spite  of  the  difiicul- 


*  Ann.  Prop.  vi.  154. 
t  Id.  viii.  805. 


Id.  vi.  208. 
§  Id.  viii.  828. 


FKENCH   MISSIONS. 


397 


abits,  came  to 


ties  caused  by  the  removal  of  the  tribe  in  1836.*     In  October, 

1837,  however,  he  fell  dangerously  ill,  and  sent  for  the  nearest 
clergyman,  but  it  was  too  late.  Worn  out  by  his  toil,  he  expired 
alone,  before  any  one  could  reach  him.f 

Ik'njamin  Mary  Petit,  a  young  deacon,  was  now  ordained  by 
Bislioj)  Brute  and  sent  to  South  Bend,  where  a  chapel  rose  in  the 
village  of  Chichipe  Outipe.  This  town  lay  on  a  rising  ground  near 
tour  small  lakes,  and  contained  1000  or  1200  Christians,  all  fer- 
vent, and  eager  to  gain  and  instruct  their  pagan  brethren.  By  the 
aid  of  his  excellent  interpreter,  apparently  the  zealous  Miss  Campo, 
Mr.  Petit  preached  and  instructed  those  who  had  already  learned 
the  rudiments  from  the  older  converts.  After  seveial  missions  here, 
interrupted  by  ministering  among  the  whites,  he  proceeded  in  May, 

1838,  to  Pokegann's  village,  whicli  was  yet  without  a  missionary: 
at  both  places  he  continually  ad<lecl  to  the  number  of  the  flock  by 
baptism,  having  enrolled  nearly  two  hundred  during  I'aschal-time. 

The  fatal  hour  at  length  arrived.  In  September,  1838,  a  force 
of  United  States  troops  surrounded  the  I'ottawotamies,  and,  as 
prisoners  of  war,  compelled  them  to  remove.  Petit  had  asked  of 
his  Bishop  leave  to  accompany  them ;  but  that  prelate  had  de- 
clined it,  not  deeming  it  proper  to  give  any  approval  of  the  cruel 
act  of  the  government.  But  being  himself  on  their  route,  he  after- 
wards consented.  The  power  of  religion  then  appeared  :  amid  their 
sad  march  he  confirmed  several,  while  hymns  and  prayers,  chanted 
in  Ottawa,  echoed  for  the  last  time  around  their  lakes.  Sick  and 
well  were  carried  off  alike.  After  giving  all  his  Episcopal  blessing. 
Bishop  Brute  proceeded  with  Petit  to  the  tents  of  the  sick,  bap- 
tized one,  and  confirmed  another,  both  of  whom  expired  soon  after. 
The  march  began  ag!iin ;  the  men,  women,  and  elder  children, 
urged  on  by  the  soldiers  in  the  rear,  followed  by  the  wagons 
loaded  with  the  sick  and  dying,  with  many  of  their  wives,  and 


Ann.  Prop.  x.  142. 


+  Id.  xi.  884. 


398 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


children,  and  })ioperty.  Thus,  tlirough  tlie  country,  excited  by  t\u'. 
Mormon  war,  tlicy  proceeded  to  the  banks  of  the  Osage  liiver, 
wliere  Mr.  Petit  confided  his  flock  to  the  care  of  the  Jesuit  Fatlier 
J.  Iloecken.*  lie  remained  a  time  to  repose  and  to  initiate  his 
successor,  but  he  had  overtasked  his  powers,  fell  dangerously  ill, 
and,  though  he  recovered  sufficiently  to  set  out  for  Indiana,  soon 
lelapsed,  and  died  at  tlie  University  of  St.  Louis,  in  the  arms  of  tliu 
Jesuits,  on  the  10th  of  Pebruary,  1839,  regarded  by  all  as  a  martyr 
of  charity.f 

On  the  sale  of  their  lands  in  Indiana  and  Illinois,  the  United 
States  government  allotted  t)ie  Pottawotamies  a  territory  on  the 
MisvSouri  near  Council  Bluff's,  containing  5,000,000  acres.  Sixteen 
hundred  ariived  near  the  Kikapoo  village  in  1836,  and  three  thou- 
sand soon  followed.  They  were  thus  brought  within  the  field  of 
the  Jesuit  missions,  but  in  our  free  republic  the  Fathers  could  not 
without  leave  extend  their  ministry  to  them.J  The  Pottawotamies, 
by  their  chief  and  lier.d  warriors,  in  the  presence  of  the  government 
officers,  solicited  some  of  the  Jesuit  Fathers  as  their  resident  mis- 
sionaries ;  and  Father  Verhaegen,  the  Vice-Provincial,  set  out  for 
Washington  to  obtain  the  necessaiy  leave.  By  the  aid  of  Mr. 
Nicolet  he  obtained  permission  to  begin  a  mission  among  the  Pot- 
tawotamies, and  to  send  missionaries  to  the  other  tribes  in  the  In- 
dian territory,  with  a  promise  that  the  wishes  of  the  natives  as  to 
their  religion  should  be  respected.§ 

Here  we  leave  the  Pottawotamies||  for  a  time,  and  return  to 
another  tribe  embraced  in  the  old  Ottawa  mission.  This  is 
the  Winnebagoes,  or  Puants,  as  they  were  called  by  the  Fiench. 
They  derived  their  name  from  the  fact  of  their  coming  from  the 


*  Ann.  Prop.  xi.  379.  +  Id.  398.  t  W.  x.  142.  §Id.  xi.  408. 

I  Tlic  last  remnant  of  the  tribe  was  deported  in  1841 ;  they  had  been 
attended  by  M.  Bernier,  and  were  visited  by  Bishop  de  la  Ilailandierc,  who 
confirmed  several,  just  bclbrc  their  removal,  at  Notre  Dame  du  Lac— ^««- 
Pro/).  XV.  46. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


399 


Pacific,  and  were  a  branch  of  the  Dahcotiu*,  or  Sioux,  wlio, 
penetrating  among  the  Algonquins,  were  ahnost  entirely  de- 
stroyed by  the  Illinois,  but  all  captives  were  at  last  allowed  to 
return  and  form  a  tribe  aijain.  The  Jesuit  missionaries  converted 
many  to  the  faith,  and,  iu  1721,  we  find  them  with  the  Sacs,  under 
the  pastoral  care  of  the  zealous  and  charitable  Father  Chardon.* 
On  the  suppression  of  that  society,  and  the  death  of  the  last  sur- 
vivoi-s  of  the  old  Fathers,  the  Winnebagoes  were  left  in  entire 
destitution  of  religious  instruction. 

From  the  intercoui-se  with  the  French,  the  tribe  soon  counted 
many  half-breeds  who  became  Christians,  however,  and,  as  in  other 
tribes,  preserved  Catholic  traditions.  Mazzuchelli  was  one  of  the 
fiiftt  to  visit  them,  and  when  Bishop  Loras  was  raised  to  the  See  of 
Dubuque,  the  Winnebagoes  requested  a  missionary.  When  they 
had  again  and  again  renewed  their  entreaties,  he  sent  them  the 
Kev.  Mr.  Petiot,  who  possessed  great  faculty  for  learning  languages. 
This  clergyman  soon  made  great  progress  in  Winnebago,  and  began 
his  labors ;  but  the  Indian  agent,  Lowry,  raised  many  obstacles, 
and  finally,  through  misrepresentation,  procured  his  removal  by  the 
governor  of  the  territory.  The  Indians  were  naturally  indignant 
at  this  religious  tyranny,  and  on  the  3d  of  November,  1844,  iu 
council  with  James  McGregor,  the  next  agent,  requested  him  to 
write  and  inform  the  President  that  the  nation  -.vished  their 
brother,  the  Black-gown,  to  reside  in  the  nation  and  take  charge 
of  the  Indian  school,  and  the  superintendent  and  teacher  then 
among  them  to  depart.  On  the  20th  of  November,  Waw-kawn- 
haw-kaw,  the  chief,  renewed  his  requestv,  and  demanded  explicitly  a 
Catholic  teacher.  The  sub-agent,  McGregor,  supported  the  request 
of  the  Winnebagoes,  and  declared  that,  as  they  had  from  their  earliest 
intercourse  with  the  whites,  until  within  twelve  years  past,  lived 
under  the  influence  of  the  Catholic  Church,  he  deemed  it  ques- 


*  Charlevoix,  vi.  436. 


400 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


tionnblc  policy  to  toice  tliein  to  rcceivo  iiistnictio"  tVoiii  a  class  to 
whom  tlu'V  objcctod.  On  this  tho  Imlians  again  apjiliecl  to  the 
liisliop,  wiio  dispatched  the  Rev.  .losoph  Cretiu,  now  J3ishop  of  St. 
Paul's,  to  their  assistance,  and  the  chiefs  tbnnally  authorized  him 
to  erect  a  church  and  schoolhouse.  At  a  public  council,  held  in 
the  presence  of  Governor  Dodgo,  they  strongly  expressed  their 
desire  to  have  a  Catholic  priest  to  instruct  their  children ;  but  in 
spite  of  all,  Cretiu  could  obtain  leave  only  to  reside  there,  being 
expressly  forbidden  to  open  a  school  !*  He  continued  his  mission, 
however,  but  at  last  he  too  was  summanly  removed  by  order  of 
Governor  Chambers. 

The  affair  excited  general  condemnation,  and  was  even  taken  up 
in  Congress ;  but,  of  course,  was  soon  forgotten,  and  not  only  did 
the  government  continue  to  pay  the  money  of  the  Winnebagoes  to 
a  missionary  whom  the  tribe  rejected ;  but,  strange  for  a  govern- 
ment that  professes  equality  of  religious  rights,  and  is  indignant 
at  Tuscan  laws,  deprived  the  Winnebagoes  of  a  priest  of  their 
religion.f 

The  tribe  was  next  removed  to  Long  Prairie,  and  left  out  of  the 
reach  of  tlie  Catholic  missionaries;  but,  in  1850,  Cretin  was  made 
Bishop  of  St.  Paul's,  and  restored  the  mission,  soon  after  reaching 
his  new  diocese.  He  placed  at  Long  Prairie,  Francis  de  Vivaldi, 
Canon  of  Ventimiglia,  and  obtained  some  justice  from  government. 
The  mission  now  assumed  a  flourishing  aspect,  and,  though  em- 
barrassed by  the  opposition  of  an  agent,  Vivaldi  has  now  a  Catholic 
population  of  two  hundred,  a  school  of  ninety  children,  and  has, 
to  aid  him  in  the  care  of  the  female  children,  three  Sisters  of  St. 
Joseph.  Among  the  Sioux,  now^  extremely  scattered,  no  perma- 
nent mission  has  yet  been  founded.  The  Red  River  missionaries, 
de  Smet,  Hoecken,  and  the  other  Jesuits  in  Indian  Territory,  at 
various  times  visited  separate  bands  and  converted  many,  so  that 


Ann.  Prop.  xvii.  487. 


+  N.  Y.  Freeman,  1846. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


401 


Voni  u  class  to 
applied  to  the 
tv  13i»liop  oi'  St. 
luthorized  him 
louncil,  hold  in 
expressed  tlioir 
lildren ;  but  in 
[le  there,  being 
led  his  mission, 
3d  by  order  of 

s  even  taken  up 
Qd  not  only  did 
►Vinnebagoes  to 
re  for  a  govern- 
nd  is  indignant 
priest  of  their 

left  out  of  the 
Jretin  was  made 

after  reaching 

icis  de  Vivaldi, 

)m  government. 

Ind,  though  env 

now  a  Catholic 
lildren,  and  ha?, 
|e  Sisters  of  St. 
;red,  no  perma- 
'^er  missionaiies, 

in  Territory,  at 

many,  so  that 

Ian,  1846. 


a  missionary  always  finds  some  Catholics  in  their  bands.  In  1847, 
the  Rev.  Augustine  Kavoux  was  sent  by  Bishop  Loras  to  Fort 
rierre,  and  there  began  a  mission  among  the  Sioux  and  half  breeds, 
which  he  still  continues ;  and  Father  de  Sniet  has  for  some  time 
projected  a  Sioux  mission  in  Indian  Tt'rritory.'* 

Such  is  the  present  state  of  the  principal  other  tribes  embraced 
in  the  old  Ottawa  mission.  The  Ma.scoutens  have  disappeared  :  the 
Sacs  and  Foxes,  constantly  at  war,  are  now  in  Indian  Territoiy  with 
the  Kikapoos  and  I'ottawotamius,  whose  later  history  we  shall  re- 
sume at  the  (dose  of  the  Louisiana  mission. 

Of  the  modern  Algonquin  missions  in  the  West,  the  Illyrian, 
Bishop  Baraga,  is,  if  not  the  pioneer,  certainly  the  one  who  has  la- 
bored most  earnestly  and  successfully ;  and  no  missionary  of  whom 
we  have  had  occasion  to  speak  has  published  more  Avorks  in  In- 
dian dialects,  or  treatises  on  them,  or  issued  more  frequent  editions. 
These  works  comprise  catechisms,  prayer-books,  instructions,  medi- 
tations, Bible  history,  epistles  a:id  gospels,  and  form  a  richer  reli- 
gious'library  for  the  Ottawas  and  Chippeways  than  any  other  tribe 
possesses.  Their  use  is  not  limited  to  them  alone  :  the  Menomo- 
tiees  also  use  them,  occasionally  adapted  by  their  missionaries.-)- 

Owing  chiefly  to  his  care,  this  part  of  the  Church  contains  now 
several  thousand  native  Catholics,  directed  by  zealous  and  earnest 

*  U.  S.  Cath.  Mag.  vii.  19-84 ;  Ann.  Prop.  xxii.  267,  *c. 
+  Bishop  Baraga's  works  are : 

1.  Anamie  Misinaigan.  (A  Prayer  and  Hymn  Book,  and  Catecliism.)  1st. 
edition:  Detroit,  1832.    Throe  others  since. 

2.  Gcte  Dibadjimowin,  Gaie  Jesus,  Obimadisiwin  oma  Aking.  (Bible 
Extracts,  Life  of  Christ,  Epistles  and  Gospels.)  Laibach,  1837.  Detroit, 
1637.    Second  edition,  1840. 

3.  Kaw'lik  Enamiad  o  Nanagatawcndamowinan.  (Instructions  and  Medi- 
tations on  all  the  Doctrines  of  the  Catholic  Church.)  712  pages:  Detroit, 
ISW. 

4.  riiippeway  Grammar.     576  pages  :  Detroit,  1849. 

H).  Chippeway  Dictionary.     662  pages  :  Cincinnati,  1852. 
6.  History,  Character,  and  Habits  of  the  North  Arnerican  Indians:  Lai- 
Nich,  1837.'  (Paris,  1837.) 


402 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


■   • 

1 

■      { 

i  . 

f    1 

1 

;, 

■        •" 

:          i  1     1 

!, 

1  ' 

pnestfs,  and  no  obstacle  exists  to  the  progress  of  tlic  faitli,  except 
tlie  occasional  opposition  of  fanatical  or  dishonest  government  em- 
ployees.* 


*  Tlie  Kev.  Stephen  T.  Badin,  whose  name  is  nssociated  with  the  new 
Pottawotamio  niisHion,  is  famous  as  being  tlie  first  priest  ordained  in  the 
United  States.  Ho  was  born  nt  Orleans,  in  France,  on  the  17th  of  July. 
1768,  and  after  studying  at  Paris,  entered  the  Sulpitian  seminary  at  Orleans. 
Refusing  to  join  the  Constitutional  Chureh,  lie  came  to  America  in  IT'.'i', 
and  was  ordained  nt  Baltimore  by  Bishop  Carroll  on  the  25th  of  May,  17ii3. 
Kentucky  was  the  chief  scene  of  his  labors,  and  ho  has  been  not  inaptly 
culled  its  apostle.  lie  died  at  Cincinnati  on  the  2l3t  of  April,  1853,  at  tlie 
age  of  eighty-five.     (See  Spalding's  Sketches  of  Kentucky.) 

The  Kev.  Andrew  Viszogski,  another  zealous  missionary,  noted  for  liis 
labors  and  piety,  was  a  native  of  Hungary.  He  died  on  the  2d  of  Januury, 
1853,  after  ti  missionary  career  of  eight  years. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 


THE    ILLINOIS    MISSION. 


Tbe  Miainis  and  IlHnois — Their  country — Tlieir  first  meetlnc;  with  inifistonarlcs — 
Alloui'Z— Marquette  [trojeets  a  mission — Aliouez  meets  them  at  Masooiiteiis — Mar- 
quette meets  them  on  the  Mi^«sissipIli — Visits  the  Knskiu<kla.s — Iteturns  and  founds 
the  nussion  of  the  Immaciiluto  Conception— llis  death— Alloiiez  at  tlie  Kaska>ivia 
villafie- The  Keeollect.s  in  Illinois— Tlioir  labors— J-"li!.'lit—Doatli  of  Father  Hihourdo 
—Allouez  returns — Gravier  beffins  Ills  mission — IJale  and  his  labors — Gravier  ajrain 
—Details  of  his  mission— Kaskaskia  chief  converted— Madame  Ako.  his  daughter — 
liinneteau— Pinet  founds  Cahokia  iidssion — Marest — SittUineut  of  Louisiana — Death 
of  Binnetcau  and  Pinet— Gravier  wounded  at  Peoria — Descends  to  Mobile — liis 
death. 

In  early  times  tlie  country  lying  north  of  tlie  Ohio,  from  the 
headwaters  of  its  northern  branch  to  the  Mississippi  above  its 
mouth,  was  inhabited  by  various  distinct  nations.  Of  these,  the 
Ei-ies,  who  lay  south  of  the  lake  which  still  bears  their  name,  the 
Weuro,  and  other  tribes,  of  whose  existence  no  trace  remains 
except  in  the  Relations  of  the  Jesuit  missonaries  in  Iluronia, 
were  of  the  Huron-Iroquois  family.  By  the  middle  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  all  these  had  been  conquered,  annihilated,  and 
absorbed  by  the  Iroquois,  who  thus  changed  into  a  desert  the 
whole  basin  of  Lake  Eric  and  Lake  Huron,  as  they  depopulated 
the  valleys  of  the  Ottawa  and  St.  Lawrence.  The  territory  now 
occupied  by  the  two  states  of  Ohio  and  Indiana  was  a  wil- 
derness, which  separated  the  Iroquois  from  the  far-famed  Algon- 
quin archers  of  the  West.  Illinois  was  then  occupied  by  two 
kindred  nations,  each  composed  of  several  clans,  Algonquin  in 
language,  but  approaching  the  Abnakis  more  than  any  others  in 
mannei-s.     These  were  the  Illinois  and  Miamis,  the  former  made 


.1 


404 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


i  ! 

E      1 


up  of  the  Pcorin,  Caliokia,  Taniaioa,  Kaskaskias,  Moinofwonas,  the 
latter  of  tli(^  Wea,  Piankcsliaw,  Tcpikokia,  and  Kilatak  clans. 
Both  have  left  their  names  in  the  states,  rivers,  towns,  and  hei«^iits 
of  the  W<^st. 

When  first  known  they  were  very  powerful  nations,  and  tliouoh 
in  collision  with  the  whites  only  for  a  short  period,  have  almost 
entirely  disappeared.  What  we  know  of  them  is  connected  with 
the  labors  of  Catholic  missionaries  to  win  them  from  idolatiT,  and 
gain  them  to  Christ,  liy  stubborn  and  unyielding  toil,  those  de- 
voted men  succeeded  at  last  in  beholding  all  embrace  the  faith, 
and  then  it  would  seem  the  reprieve  granted  by  Providence  to  tlio 
tribes  expired,  and  they  disappear.  In  other  lands  the  priest  of 
God  converts  the  expiring  sinner,  in  America  the  expiring  nation. 
Some  tribes  are  entirely  extinct ;  none  can  ever  rally  and  regain 
their  former  strength ;  most  are  dying  sileutl}^  away. 

When  first  known  to  the  envovs  of  Christ,  the  Illinois  lav  on 
both  sides  of  the  Mississippi,  pressed  on  the  west  by  the  Tartar 
Dahcota,  and  on  the  east  by  the  fierce  Iroquois,  so  that  some 
tribes  descended  to  the  south  and  southwest,  where,  not  unlikely, 
traces  of  them  may  yet  be  found.  The  Miamis  lay  around  the 
southern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  stretching  eastward  to  the  shoies 
of  Lake  Erie.  Although  distinct,  and  at  times  at  variance,  the 
Illinois  and  Miami  easily  intermingled,  being  of  the  same  race  and 
language. 

The  Illinois  fiist  met  the  missionary  of  Christ  at  Chegoimegon, 
where  Father  Allouez  planted,  in  1667,  his  firet  Ottawa  mission. 
Here,  too,  his  successor,  the  illustrious  Marquette,  received  visits 
from  straggling  parties,  projected  a  mission,  and  from  one  of  the 
tribe  learned  the  language  of  the  Illinois.  War  defeated  his  de- 
sign, and  drove  him  to  Mackinaw.  When  Allouez,  at  a  later 
date,  ascended  Fox  River,  and  passed  the  Kakalin  Rapid,  he 
came  to  the  motley  town  of  Mascoutens,  where  a  number  of  Illi- 
nois and  Miamis  resided,  with  the  Mascoutens  and  Kikapoos,  ail 


FKKNC'H    MISSIONS. 


40, 


O 


firatherod  in  tlio  same  villajro,  althouirli  tlie  Illinois  >v«'io  about  t 


>? 


•s>^ » 


o 


nMn(»ve  to  the  banks  of  thrir  own  river.  J.ater  still,  Man|uettii 
was  enabled  to  realize  liis  tbnd  project  of  explorinijf  the  ^^vnnt  I'iviT 
of  the  West,  and  foundini;  an  Illinois  mission.  Following  tlie 
track  of  the  adventurous  Allouez,  lie  reached  Mascoutens,  but 
there  were  no  Illinois  there.  Crossing  a  short  portage,  he  em- 
barked on  the  Wisconsin,  in  the  name  of  the  Blessed  N'irgin  Im- 
maculate. Ilis  canoe  glided  on,  and  at  last,  on  the  17th  tit' 
June,  1CV3,  sliot  into  the  calm,  transparent  waters  of  the  Upper 
Mississippi,  to  whidi,  as  he  liad  promised,  he  gave  the  uiimo  of 
Conception  Kiver.  llis  wisli  wjis  not  realized  there — the  Indian 
name  prevails — but  Mary,  under  the  title  of  her  Innnaculate  Con- 
cojition,  is  the  patroness  of  our  whole  wide  repul)lic.  Long  sailed 
he  on,  with  no  witness  to  his  way  but  the  birds  and  the  beasts  of 
the  plains,  till  he  at  last  descried  a  trail  on  the  shore,  leading  to 
the  Illinois  towns  of  l*eoria  and  Moingwena.  These  he  visited, 
meeting  a  kindly  welcome,  and  promi?Mig  them  to  return.  As  is 
well  known,  he  then  pui"sued  his  voyage,  passing  the  Missouri  and 
Ohio,  till  he  reached  the  Arkansas,  when,  convinced  that  the 
river  emptied  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  he  returned,  in  consequence 
of  an  Indian  report  that  the  Spaniards  were  not  far  off.  Ascend- 
ing, he  passed  the  Missouri,  and  entering  the  Illinois,  met  the  Peo- 
rias  on  its  banks,  and  ;>pent  three  days  preaching  in  all  their 
cabins.  After  baptizing  a  child  among  them,  he  reached  the 
Kaskaskias,  not  far  from  Rockfort.  Like  all  the  other  Illinois 
clans,  they  received  him  joyfully,  and  earnestly  entreated  him  to 
remain.  He  promised  to  return  and  begin  a  mission,  and  after  a 
short  stay,  doubtless  spent  in  announcing  the  word  of  God,  he  re- 
turned to  Green  Bay,  by  the  way  of  Lake  Michigan.  Such  was 
the  first  incidental  mission  anions:  the  Illinois,  of  which  the  onlv 
result  was  the  preparation  of  the  field  for  the  gospel,  passing  in- 
structions, and  the  baptism  of  a  single  child,  whose  soul,  ere 
the  good  missionary  embarked,  had  so.ired  regenerate  on  high, 


406 


AMERICAN   CATIlOlJf    MlSSlUNt^. 


f  II ! 


to   ojM'ii   ill   tlio   iv.'ilins  of  bliss  tlio  ]>laoo  of  the;  elect  of  the 
Illinois. 

KatlitT  Mjii'(|Ut'tto  n'aclu'd  (Jivcii  Hay  laic  in  Scjth'mlMT,  lOTH. 
If  he  I't'tunicd  to  Mackinaw,  as  soinc  <lo('Uinents  seem  to  sav.  in- 
certainly  spent  the  next  summer  at  (Jreeii  Uay  in  a  state  of  snll.r- 
int;,  for  ex<'essiv«»  toil  anti  ex|»osur«'  had  shattered  his  health,  ami. 
almost  th(?  vounijest  of  the  western  missionaries,  ha  saw  his  careti' 
nl»out  to  {'lose.  (Mh'  ol>je<'t  alone;  inspired  him  with  a  desire  td 
live — his  mission  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  ainoni;  the  l\;is- 
kaskias.  To  them  he  had  pliijhted  his  word  to  return  and  instruct 
them  in  the  faith.  The  onler  of  his  Sujierior  at  (.Quebec  to  bcijiii 
that  mission  seems  to  liave  restored  his  health.  He  received  it  in 
September,  and  in  October  set  out  to  realize  his  last  earthly  dc 
sire.  Sulferincf  in  bodv,  his  itlavful,  winning  wavs  ffave  no  token 
of  Ins  inward  ])ain,  and  his  couiago  bore  liim  up  in  that  winti  r 
journey  in  the  wilderness,  unsheltered  and  unprotected.  So  l.it< 
was  liis  departure,  that  the  ice  surprised  him  on  the  Chicni-o 
River,  and  there,  in  a  wretched  hovel,  open  to  eveiy  wind,  the 
dying  missionary,  upborne  by  the  consolations  of  heaven,  awaitcij 
the  moment  when  Providence  should  enable  him  to  complete  lii> 
course.  No  murmur,  no  complaint  escaped  his  lips,  and  liis  lan- 
guage in  his  lettere  seems  to  describe  a  place  of  abundance  and 
comfort.  With  liis  two  pious  boatmen,  he  embarked  again  on 
the  30th  of  March,  when  the  river  had  opened,  and,  in  conse- 
quence of  some  delay,  reached  the  Kaskaskias  only  on  the  8tli  of 
April.  lie  was  received  as  an  angel  from  heaven  by  the  kiml- 
hearted  Illinois,  who  had,  during  the  Avinter,  shown  their  interest 
in  their  missionary  by  even  sending  him  a  deputaiion,  and  otfer- 
ing  to  carry  him  to  their  village.  Eager  Ic  ,<:ofit  I  -  u  strenirth 
which  had  been  miraculously  lesiuio J  uy  a  •  *'t''.c 

Immaculate  Conception,  he  went  from  cabin  i*.-  v  ..■ 
the  inmates.     Then,  when  all  were  sufficiently  await  loc- 

trines  of  the  cross  to  follow  his  discourse,  he  convoked  a  general 


FnHNTIl    MISSIONS. 


407 


ho  elect  of  tlh' 


niMing  ill  a  Ixviutit'ul  prairio.  TIkm-c,  Itcfoiv  (licir  wondrntio- 
ov»'.s,  lu'  raised  iiis  altar,  ami,  as  true  a  kiiiglit  to  Mary  as  chivalry 
ever  produced,  displayed  on  every  nide  pictures  «»t"  that  mother  of 
all  purity,  who  uas  to  juu'ity  and  elevate  a  land  sunk  in  all  horrid 
vice.  At  least  two  thousand  men,  with  countless  women  an<l  chil- 
(h'l'ti,  were  frroujM'd  around,  and  with  the  l»re;ithless  attention  of 
llie  Indian,  all  listened  to  the  pale  and  wasted  missionary,  who 
sj)ok<!  his  heait  to  them  on  tlu^  mystery  of  the  cross.  And  still 
their  wonder  grew  as  they  beheld  him  then  otVer  up  on  liis  sylvan 
:iltar  the  holy  sacritice  of  the  mass,  on  the  very  day  when,  more 
than  sixteen  centuries  before,  the  (Jod  he  preached  had  institnte<l 
it  in  the  upper  room  at  Jerusalem.  Thus,  on  Miiundy  Thursday, 
was  possession  taken  of  Illinois,  in  the  name  of  Catholicity,  of 
Jesus  and  Mar\'. 

.Nfarquetto  remained  there  instructing  thetu  till  after  Easter, 
which  fell  that  year  on  the  14th  of  April.  Then  he  felt  that  the 
strength  given  him  began  to  fail,  and  he  was  wanied  to  depart,  if 
he  would  die  in  tlie  arms  of  his  brethren  at  Mackinaw,  lie  set 
out  accompanied  by  the  Illinois,  whose  fond  adieus  and  earnest 
entreaties  to  return  cheered  him  as  he  launched  his  bark  at  last 
on  Lake  Michigan,  and  began  to  coast  along  the  unknown  eastern 
shore  towards  Mackinaw.  Day  by  day  he  sank,  and  his  two  poor 
companions  trembled  for  their  dear  T  ther.  No  couch  was  there 
for  the  dying  missionary,  but  the  canoe,  rocked  by  the  waves,  or 
the  earth  where  they  laid  him  at  night.  But  Marquette  was 
(•aim  and  cheerful.  lie  spoke  of  his  death,  and  gave  them  all 
directions  for  that  awful  moment,  and  for  Ins  obsequies.  Ever  a 
priest,  he  recited  his  office  to  his  dying  day,  and  almost  his  last 
act  in  life  was  to  liear  the  confessions  of  his  pious  comrades.  At 
last,  as  he  reached  a  river,  he  pointed  to  a  rising  giound  as  the 
place  of  his  interment.  It  was  prophetical ;  for  though  the  day 
was  clear,  and  the  men  sought  to  push  on,  a  sudden  change  drove 
them  back.     When  they  haid  him  on  the  shore,  the  dew  of  death 


I    II 


^  ^ 


408 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


Hi 


was  already  on  his  brow.  Repeating  his  last  direction?!,  he 
begged  their  pardon  for  all  the  trouble  he  had  given.  Ih'  be- 
sought them,  in  his  name,  to  beg  pardon  of  his  Supeiiors  and  :ill 
iiis  fellow  religious,  and  then,  with  a  promise  never  to  forget  them. 
bade  them  rest  awhile  their  wearied  limbs.  AVhile  they  slept,  ho 
communed  alone  with  God,  till  he  felt  that  his  hour  was  come. 
Then  he  called  them  to  him,  and  with  a  loud  voice  pronounced, 
as  he  gazed  on  his  crucifix,  liis  profession  of  faith,  and  thanked  tlio 
Almighty  for  his  mercy  in  permitting  him  to  die  in  the  Society  ot 
Jesus,  alone  amid  the  forests.  Then  with  the  names  of  Jesus  and 
Mary  on  his  lips,  and  his  face  lit  up  with  a  rapturous  smile,  his 
pure  soul  passed  away,  and  the  discoverer  of  the  Mississippi,  the 
founder  of  the  Illinois  mission,  the  most  loyal  servant  of  the  Qiieoii 
of  Heaven  that  ever  traversed  our  land,  went  on  her  chosen  day 
and  in  her  chosen  month  to  chant  her  glories  in  heaven.  It  was, 
^s  he  had  asked,  on  a  Saturday,  the  19th  of  May,  1675. 

Need  we  stop  here  to  tell  how  they  buried  him  there,  and  rais- 
ing a  cross  over  his  solitary  grave,  knelt  to  invoke  his  intercession 
with  God,  sure  that  in  glor)^  he  could  not  forget  them ;  how,  two 
years  later,  his  Kiskakons  of  Mackinaw  disinterred  the  body,  dried 
but  undecayed,  and  removing  the  tlesh,  bore  the  bones  in  funereal 
triumph  over  the  waters  of  the  lake  to  Mackinaw ;  how  he  was 
buried  there  in  the  centre  of  the  church,  as  the  guardian  of  the 
Ottawa  mission.* 

Thus,  calmly  and  gently,  as  he  had  lived,  died  the  sainted  Mar- 
quette, a  martyr  to  his  zeal.f     But  the  Illinois  mission  was  dos- 


*  Shea's  Discovery  and  Exploration  of  tlie  Mississippi,  passim. 

t  Father  Jarncs  Marquette  was  born  in  1637  at  Laon,  in  Picardy,  in  the 
present  department  of  Aisnc,  wlicrc  liis  family  had  long  held  a  distiiii^ui-'licJ 
rank.  His  mother  was  a  relative  of  the  venerable  John  B.  de  la  Sallo,  the 
founder  of  the  Christian  schools.  Enterinnf  the  Society  of  Jesus  in  l<'i")t,  1^' 
was  for  twelve  years  employed  in  study  or  teaching  ;  then  exchanged  from 
his  province  of  Champagne  to  that  of  France,  he  came  to  Canada.  After 
studying  Montagnais,  under  Druilletcs,  he  went  to  the  "West,  and  nt^cr 
founding  SaultSt.  Mary's,  became  the  missionary  of  the  Ottawas  and  Hurous 


s. 


FREN'CU   MISSIONS. 


409 


5t   directions,   lie 
given.     1I<'  bc- 
Supeiiovs  and  all 
31*  to  forget  tlieni. 
lile  they  slept,  he 
,  hour  was  conif. 
^oice  pionounced, 
,  and  thanked  tlio 
;  ill  the  Society  ot 
imes  of  Jesus  and 
pturous  smile,  liis 
le  Mississippi,  tho 
•vant  of  the  Queen 
)n  her  chosen  day 
1  heaven.     It  was, 
iV,  1675. 

Ini  there,  and  rais- 
ike  his  intercession 
it  them ;  how,  two 
•ed  the  body,  diied 
bones  in  funereal 
[law ;  how  he  was 
guardian  of  the 

the  sainted  Mar- 
ls mission  was  des- 


pi,  paspim. 
1,  in  Picardy,  in  the 
J  held  a  distiii<,'uislKJ 
|in  B.  de  la  Salle,  the 
I  of  Jesus  in  K'.'ii.  lie 
jbcn  exchanged  from 
|o  to  Canada.  After 
\ho  West,  and  nt\cr 
[ottawas  and  Hurons 


lined  not  to  perish.  Alloucz,  founder  of  ko  many  western  mis- 
sions, was  chosen  to  carry  out  the  plans  of  the  discoverer.  lie  set 
out  in  October,  1G7G,  and  wintering  on  the  way,  reached  the  Chi- 
cago in  the  spring.  Here  he  met  a  band  of  eighty  Illinois,  who 
welcomed  him  with  the  calumet  of  peace,  and  accompanit .  !  im 
to  Kaskaskia,  which  he  readied  on  the  27th  of  April.  IL-  was 
innnediately  installed  in  Father  Marouette's  cabin,  and,  convoking 
the  sachems,  announced  the  object  of  his  visit,  and  unfolded  the 
mysteries  of  the  faith,  for  all  had  to  be  begun  anew,  so  changed 
was  the  village.  Marquette  had  found  but  one  tribe  and  seventy- 
four  cabins,  where  his  successor  found  eight  iribes  in  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty-one  cabins,  ranged  along  the  river  in  a  beautiful 
prairie. 

Allouez  began  his  mission  by  proceeding  to  the  cabin  of  the 
chief  of  the  clan  which  he  intended  to  instruct.  There  ho  pre- 
pared his  little  altar,  and  exposing  a  crucifix,  began  to  explain  the 
Christian  doctrine,  and  teach  the  most  necessary  i)rayers.  All 
joined  witli  the  utmost  alacrity,  repeating  th«.*  prayers,  biinging  in- 
fants to  baptize  and  children  to  instruct. 

On  the  3d  of  May,  the  feast  of  the  Invention  of  the  Holy  Cross, 
he  raised  in  the  midst  of  the  village  a  cross  twenty-five  feet  high, 
which  for  many  a  year  stood  erect,  to  show  that  Chnst  had  been 
preached  in  that  new  land.  Such  was  the  fervor  of  the  Illinois, 
that  Allouez,  seeing  nothing  to  prevent  a  permanent  mission, 
yielded  to  their  entreaties,  and  baptized  thirty-five  infants  and  one 

at  Lapointc,  with  whom  he  removed  to  Mackinaw,  lli.s  subsequent  wo 
have  given.  Zealous,  laborious,  cheerful,  mild,  and  liumble,  he  was  the 
sa!iic  in  life  as  in  death — forgetful  of  self.  His  last  thoughts  were  for  his 
companions;  his  last  entry  in  his  journal,  sympathy  for  the  suffurings  of  tho 
traders.  Of  his  own  he  never  spoke.  His  devotion  to  tho  Iminacnlato  Con- 
ccption  was  wonderful.  lie  never  wrote  a  letter  without  mentioniij<f  it.  Ho 
gave  that  name  to  his  Illinois  mission,  and  to  the  great  river  which  he  dis- 
covered. He  died  on  the  19th  of  May,  1075,  aged  forty-eight.  His  life  may 
bo  found  in  Sparks'  American  Biography,  vol.  x.,  and  more  fully  in  Shea's 
Discovery  of  the  Mississippi,  xli. 

18 


.1       1 


410 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


dying  adult.  In  this  he  acted  unwisely,  as  events  proved,  llis 
mission  was  never  to  be  permanently  established  in  his  lifetime 
He  nimself  was  driven  from  Illinois,  and  his  enemies,  who 
called  the  cross  a  stick,  boasted  that  those  whom  he  had  baj)- 
tized  were  growing  up  in  idolatry.*  Such  an  issue  of  events 
Allouez  could  not  foresee,  and  doubtless  he  weighed  the  matter 
well  before  he  conferred  the  sacrament  on  any  of  the  infants  not 
absolutely  in  danger. 

After  a  short  stay,  he  left  Kaskaskia  for  Mackinaw,  to  make  ar- 
rangements for  a  permanent  residence  there.  In  16/8,  ho  again 
set  out  for  his  new  mission,  intending  to  prolong  his  stay  for  two 
years ;  but  soon  after  his  arrival,  the  Iroquois  invaded  the  country, 
the  Illinois  scattered,  and  the  mission  was  checked.f  Allouez  re- 
mained, however,  till  the  approach  of  La  Salle,  in  1679.  Tliat 
commander  was  so  opposed  to  the  Jesuit  missionaries,  that  he  had 
refused  to  treat  with  the  Senecas  till  they  dismissed  Father  (iar- 
nier  from  the  council-lodge ;  and  to  Allouez  he  had  constantly 
shown  a  personal  opposition.  Aware  of  this,  Allouez  thought  it 
better  to  yield  to  the  storm,  and,  with  a  heavy  heart,  retired  to 
Mascoutens,  awaiting  the  time  when  the  clouds  should  pa^^s 
away.J 

Meanwhile,  La  Salle  reached  the  village  in  December,  but  it 
was  empty — all  had  gone  some  distance  down  the  river  to  hunt 
buflfalo.  He  came  to  colonize  the  West,  and  accumulate  woaltli 
by  a  monopoly  of  the  fur-trade.  The  Illinois  River  was  to  see  the 
first  of  his  posts  arise.  Possessed  of  great  influence  with  Indian 
tribes,  he  now  sought  to  win  the  Illinois.  Descending  with  the 
current,  his  flotilla,  airayed  for  battle,  came  by  a  turn  in  the 
river  into  the  very  midst  of  the  Illinois  camp,  at  the  head  of  Peo- 
ria Lake,  on  the  first  day  in  the  year  1680.     As  soon  as  confi- 


*  Le  Clercq,  Etablisscment  do  la  Foi ;  La  Salle  in  Hennepin, 
t  Shea's  Discovery  and  Exploration  of  the  Mississippi. 
X  Hennepin,  Kner.  edition,  1697,  appendix. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


411 


dence  was  rcsto'otl,  La  Salic  outorcd  into  tViendlv  rolatioiis  ■with 
the  tribe,  and  l>ogan  a  fort  on  a  rising  ground.  Mistbrtunos  bad 
nK'anwbile  c]iC(juerL'd  bis  patb.  His  vessel,  tbe  first  to  ply  tbc 
waters  of  Erie,  Huron,  and  Micbigan,  bad  foundered ;  faitbless 
agents  liad  plundered  bis  stores ;  and  be  now  set  out  for  Niagara, 
across  tbe  unknown  region  on  Lake  Erie,  leaving  tbe  Clievalier  de 
Tonty,  bis  lieutenant,  in  command  of  bis  new  fort. 

Altbougb  La  Salle's  object  was  purely  a  mercantile  speculation, 
he  Avas  not  indifferent  to  religion.  Three  missionaries  of  tbe  order 
of  St.  Francis,  and  tbe  reform  called  Recollects,  bad  accompanied 
him.  Tbese  were  Father  Gabriel  de  la  Ribourde,  who  liad  been 
the  first  Superior  of  tbe  Recollects  after  their  return  to  Canada, 
Fatbei"s  Zenobius  Membro  and  Louis  Hennepin.  Tbe  last  named 
was  sent  westward  bv  La  Salle  before  be  himself  set  out,  and 
never  returned  to  Illinois;  but  Father  Gabriel  and  Father  Zeno- 
bius at  once  began  a  mission  ivn  ;g  tbe  Indians.  Eacb  was 
adopted  by  a  chief,  and  both,  when  T.  "v  s  men  deserted  the  fort, 
were  compelled  to  accept  tbe  liospita  '^  jl  chiefs  who  bad  adopted 
them.  Zenobius  was  tbe  first  to  begin  tbe  study  of  their  language, 
hut  unaided  by  previous  studies  of  Algonquin  dialects,  witb  no 
gi'ammar  or  vocabulary  to  guide  liim  by  analogy,  bis  progress  was 
slow.  Wben  Zenobius  followed  tbe  Indians  back  to  their  village, 
Father  Gabriel  soon  joiii'^d  him,  and  even,  at  bis  advanced  age, 
began  to  study  tbe  dialect  of  the  Illinois.  For  botli  it  was  their 
first  essay  in  an  Indian  mission,  and  what  wonder  tbat  tliey  were 
discouraged !  Like  many  even  in  our  days,  they  liad  misconceived 
the  language  of  other  missionaries,  and  wben  tbese  spoke  of  great 
results,  figured  to  themselves  cburcbes  filled  witb  neophytes. 
They  had  now  to  learn  by  experience  tbat  one  or  two  convei-sions 
in  their  first  years  were  really  a  splendid  triumph.*  They  made 
liono,  and  tbe  excellent  Father  Membro  was  comjdetely  di.«'beart- 


*  Le  Clercq,  Etab.  de  la  Foi,  i.  173,  179.     For  Ilennepiu's  character,  poo 
l)iscovery  of  the  MiHsissippi. 


412 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC   MLSSIOXS. 


|}     i 


enetl.  He  baptized  some  dying  infants,  and  two  or  three  expiring 
adults;  but  even  then  saw  one  breatlie  his  hist  amid  the  incanta- 
tions of  tlie  medicine-men,  an  apostate  from  his  new  faitli.  IL^ 
visited  a  Miami  vilhige,  but  the  same  prospect  met  liim  tluTc. 
Dejected  as  lie  was,  he  struggled  on,  for  he  was  a  faithful  and 
eai'uest  missionaiy,  who,  through  every  adversity,  would  bear  up 
to  the  end.  In  Sejitember,  however,  a  change  of  affairs  blasted 
every  hope.  The  Illinois  were  again  attacked  by  the  Iroquois. 
Unable  to  meet  that  terrible  foe  with  their  villao-es  weakened  hv 
the  absence  of  war-parties,  the  Illinois  fled,  leaving  the  mission- 
aries and  their  French  companions  alone.  Tonty,  Membre,  and 
Ribourde  had  now  no  alternative  but  to  tiT  and  reach  Green  Bav, 
the  nearest  spot  where  they  could  hope  to  receive  a  welcome. 
Embarking  on  the  Illinois  on  the  18th  of  September,  their  canoe 
was  soon  injured  by  the  rocks,  and  the  next  day  they  landed  to 
repair  it.  Leaving  liis  comrades  on  the  shore,  the  aged  Father 
Gabriel  retired  apart  to  say  his  brevi^u•y.  AVliile  thus  engaged. 
he  was  met  by  a  party  of  Kikapoos,  out  against  the  Iroquois,  who 
ruthlessly  murdered  him.  Such  was  the  end  of  tliis  holy  religious, 
who,  after  having  filled  the  most  important  offices  in  his  order, 
had  in  his  old  age,  consulting  his  zeal  rather  than  his  strength, 
embarked  on  a  long  and  dangerous  expedition,  in  the  hopes  of 
gaining  souls  to  Christ.* 

His  companions,  on  discovering  his  absence,  sought  him  in  vain : 
and  when  all  liope  was  gone  proceeded  on  their  way,  and,  after 

*  Father  Giibricl  de  la  Ribourde  was  the  last  scion  of  a  noble  Biirpnndian 
lionse,  who  renounced  tiic  world  and  its  honors  to  enter  the  order  of  St. 
Francis,  and  then,  when  advanced  in  years,  renounced  the  comforts  of 
Europe  for  the  wilds  of  Canada.  lie  came  out  in  1670,  and  soon  becanio 
Commissary  or  Superior  of  his  order  in  the  colony.  His  conduct  in  tlii> 
position  met  universal  praise.  Sent  by  his  successor  to  Fort  Frontcniic.  ho 
was  induced  by  Hennepin  to  join  La  Salle's  party.  He  died  on  the  I'tli  of 
September,  16S0,  in  the  seventieth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  fortieth  of  liis 
religious  career,  during  most  of  which  he  held  important  offices.  (See  Ihii- 
nepin's  New  Discovery,  Le  Clercq,  Shea's  Discovery  of  the  Mississippi.) 


■■* ' 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


413 


•  three  expiring 
iiid  the  incanta- 
new  faith.     He 
met  him  tlicrc. 
I  a  fjiitliful  ami 
would  bear  up 
f  affairs  blasted 
)y  the  Iroquoi;'. 
^es  -vveakened  by 
ng  the  missioii- 
y,  Membre,  and 
3ach  Green  Bay, 
eive  a  welcome, 
iber,  their  canoe 
y  tliey  landed  to 
the  aged  Father 
e  thus  engaged, 
he  Iroquois,  who 
lis  holy  religious, 

ces  in  his  order, 
an  his  strength, 

in  the  hopes  of 

icfht  him  in  vain ; 
r  way,  and,  after 

noble  Burgniuliiin 

er  the  order  of  St. 

cl   the   comf'irts  «( 

,  and  soon  became 

ia  conduct  in  tlii^ 

•\irt  Fronteniio.  li'^ 

died  on  the  '.'th  of 

tlie  fortieth  of  liis 

offices.     (Sec  llt"- 

le  MisBiPsippi.) 


iiuicli  suffering,  reached  the  Jesuit  mission  at  Green  Bay,  where  a 
kindly  welcome  soon  restored  them  to  health  and  strength. 

Tlius  ended  the  Recollect  mission  among  the  Illinois,  for,  though 
Father  Zenobius  passed  through  again  in  1082,  with  Lu  Salle,  when 
lie  went  down  the  Mississippi,  and  again  on  his  return,  he  makes 
no  mention  of  any  intercourse  with  the  Indians.* 

The  next  year  Tonti  restored  the  fort,  and,  feeling  the  want  of  a 
[)riest,  welcomed  AUouez  with  pleasure,  when  that  missionary,  in 
1084,  returned  to  Illinois  with  Durantaye.  Aware,  too,  of  the 
groundlessness  of  La  Salle's  suspicions  against  AUouez,  Tonti  per- 
suaded him  to  remain,  and  ho  did  till  1687,  when  the  survivors  of 
La  Salle's  fatal  expedition  arrived.f  As  they  falsely  announced 
that  the  great  adventurer  was  still  alive  and  on  his  way,  AUouez 
again  withdrew  to  Wisconsin.  Of  these  missions  of  AUouez  no 
trace  remains,  and  none  of  another  apparently  later  visit.  lie 
<lied  in  1690  at  Fort  St.  Joseph,  full  of  days  and  merits,  but 
the  fragment  which  records  his  death  gives  no  details  of  iiis 
labors.  J 

In  the  same  year  that  AUouez  withdrew,  as  we  have  stated,  on 
the  arrival  of  Father  Douay  and  his  companions,  Father  James 
Gravier  visited  Illinois,§  but  his  mission  did  not  then  become  a 
permanent  one.    On  the  death  of  AUouez,  the  Superior  of  the  Jesuit 


*  Shea's  Disc,  and  Exploration.        f  La  Ilontan,  ii.  146 ;  Lo  Clercq,  ii. 

t  Of  Father  Claude  AUouez  I  find  neither  the  time  nor  the  place  of  his 
birth.  We  know  that  on  the  3d  of  March,  16r<7,  he  received  permission  to 
ciiibark  for  Canada,  and  came  out  in  the  followinf?  year.  After  laborinj?  at 
Throe  Rivers  and  Montreal  he  setoutfor  the  West  inlGGo,  and  labored  there 
steadily  till  his  death,  which  took  place  about  August,  IGDO.  For  a  sketch  of 
his  life,  see  Discov.  of  the  Mississippi,  p.  67.  lie  was  a  fearless  and  devoted 
missionary:  as  a  man  of  zeal  and  piety,  he  is  not  inferior  to  any  of  his  day  ; 
iiiul  his  name  is  iniperishably  connected  with  the  progress  of  discovery  in 
the  West. 

§  Tonti,  in  Louis.  Hist.  Coll.  i.  p,  70.  The  English  version  of  Tonti  has 
Crf'vier ;  but  as  Gravier  was  on  the  Ottawa  mission  at  that  time  (Catal.  Prov. 
Francis  S.  J.  168S),  we  may  safely  infer  him  to  be  meant:  all  the  names  iu 
liiv  memoir  liaving  Buffered  in  transcription  or  translation. 


414 


AMEIUOAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


VI 


I  I 

;  > 


!       '    , 

'    • 

r  -HI 

i 

'     ■  1 

mh 

f 


missions  selected,  as  his  successor,  the  now  celebrated  Father  Se- 
bastian Kale,  who  set  out  from  Quebec  in  August,  1G91,  but  did 
not  reach  the  great  Illinois  village  till  the  next  spring.  On  ai- 
riving  at  the  first  village,  then  composed  of  300  cabins,  all  of  four 
or  five  fires,  and  twice  as  many  families,  he  was  invited  by  the  head 
chief  to  a  solenm  ban.j[uet,  given  in  liis  honor.  Yet  kindly  as  hi.s 
welcome  was,  he  found  that  the  faith  had  yet  made  but  little 
progress.  "  There  would  have  been  less  difficulty  in  converting  llie 
Illinois,"  says  he,  "  if  the  prayer  liad  permitted  polygamy  amoni;- 
them.  They  acknowledged  that  tlie  prayer  was  good,  and  were 
delighted  to  have  their  wives  and  children  instructed ;  but  when 
we  broached  the  subject  to  the  men,  we  found  how  difficult  it 
was  to  overcome  their  inconstancy,  and  induce  them  to  adhere 
to  a  single  wife."  "There  are  none,"  lie  adds,  "even  of  the 
medicine-men,  of  course  the  worst  enemies  of  religion,  who  do 
not  send  their  children  to  be  instructed  and  baptized." 

The  account  given  by  this  missionary  Avas  written  thirty  years 
after,  and  is  necessarily  vague.  As  in  most  rising  missions,  the 
best  and  most  certain  fruit  was  the  baptism  of  the  infants,  many  of 
whom  died  before  attaining  the  ago  of  reason :  yet  adult  conveits 
were  not  wanting.  A  considerable  number  had  been  won,  and 
such  was  their  fervor  and  attachment  to  the  faith,  that  they  would 
have  suffered  any  torture  sooner  than  foi*sakc  it. 

The  services  of  religion  were  regularly  maintained ;  and  besides 
the  daily  mass,  all  assembled  in  the  chapel  for  morning  and  evening 
prayer. 

After  two  years'  stay  among  the  Illinois.  Father  Rale  was  recalled 
to  the  Abnakis,  liis  original  charge,  and  Father  Gravier  again  re- 
sumed the  mission.*  lie  was  the  first  to  analyze  the  language 
thoroughly,  and  com[>ile  its  grammar,  which  subsequent  missiona- 
ries brought  to  perfection,  admitting  that  their  labore  were  hut 

*"  RiUo,  in  T.ottrcs  Kdil".  and  in  Kip's  .Jesuit  Misfiions,  4o. 


FKENCU    MISSIONS. 


415 


lie  was  recallod 


developments  of  Gravier's  masterly  sketch.*  As  a  missionary  ho 
iiit't  threat  opposition  from  the  niedicine-men,  who  often  threatened 
his  life.  Patient  and  mild  as  (}ravier  was^.he  was  no  less  firm  and 
intrepid  where  duty  re<iuired  it.  Of  his  mission  we  have  a  journal 
extending  from  March  20,  1093,  to  February  15,  1094,  which 
gives  some  idea  of  his  labors. 

Ilis  mission  was  near  the  French  fort,  within  which  his  first 
(hnpel  was ;  but  after  wintering  with  the  Miamis  he  erected  a  new 
cliapel  outside  of  the  fort  in  a  very  convenient  place  for  the  Indians, 
and,  opening  it  in  April,  planted  before  it  a  towering  cross  amid  the 
shouts  and  musketry  of  the  French. 

The  Peorias,  among  whom  he  labored,  already  numbered  some 
fervent  Chnstians.  Even  in  the  absence  of  their  pastor  the  men 
assembled  in  the  chapel  for  morning  and  evening  prayei",  and  after 
they  had  left,  an  old  chief  went  through  the  village  to  call  the 
women  and  children  to  perform  the  same  duty.  Tlie  head  chief, 
however,  who  was  a  medicine-man,  with  many  of  his  associates, 
did  all  in  their  power  to  prevent  the  people  from  listening  to  the 
missionary,  and  eagerly  endeavored  to  draw  a  discontented  neo- 
phyte to  their  party,  hoping  to  prove  by  him  that  Gravier  poisoned 
the  dying ;  for  here,  too,  that  old  calumny  was  spread.  Even  the 
French  at  the  post,  whose  dissolute  life  could  not  brook  the  censor- 
ship of  a  priest,  aided  these  slanders.  During  the  year,  however, 
Ako,  apparently  the  companion  of  Father  Hennepin  in  his  voyage 
on  the  Mississippi,  married  Mary,  the  daughter  of  the  chief  of  the 
Kaskaskias;  and  this,  although  at  first  a  source  of  great  persecution 
to  Father  Gravier,  became,  in  the  end,  a  great  help  to  the  mission. 


*  None  of  his  works  exist.  A  catechism  and  dictionary  were  extant  some 
years  since,  but  scorn  to  have  perislicd.  As  a  specimen  of  the  kingiiage,  we 
f,'ive  from  IJale  his  version  of  tlic  "  O  Salutaris  llostia :" 

"  Pekiziunc  nianct  wc 
Piaro  nile  hi  nan<rhi 
Keninama  wi  oo  kangha 
Mero  winang  oosianj?  lii."~/u/',  -A*.  MUsionSy  iiO. 


f 


»p 


( ■ 


416 


AMEllICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


il 


When  Ako  sought  her  in  marriage,  tar  from  being  liattered  with 
the  prospect  of  a  union  with  a  Frenchman,  slie  told  her  parents 
that  she  did  not  wish  to  marry ;  that  she  had  aheady  given  all  her 
heart  to  God,  and  could  not  share  it  with  another.  This  she  re- 
peated when  they  all  proceeded  to  the  chapel,  and  there  Gravier 
told  her  that  she  was  free  to  marry  or  not,  as  she  chose.  Deeming 
Gravier  her  adviser,  Ako  and  the  chief  resolved  to  drive  him  to  per- 
form the  ceremony,  or  leave  the  place.  The  chief  stripped  his 
daughter,  and  drove  her  from  his  cabin  :  then  convening  a  council 
of  the  chiets  of  the  four  nearest  villages,  he  declaimed  against  tlie 
missionary,  and  easily  induced  them  to  issue  an  order  forbid- 
ding  the  women  and  children  to  go  to  the  chapel.  Regfirdless  of 
the  order,  fifty  I'eorias  and  some  Kaskaskias  came  to  prayers,  and 
the  intrepid  missionary,  as  usual,  traversed  the  villages  to  summon 
them  at  the  .accustomed  hour.  Finding  this  first  step  useless,  the 
chiefs  next  blocked  up  the  paths  to  prevent  all  from  going ;  but 
as  even  then  some,  by  a  circuitous  path,  reached  the  chapel,  a  chief, 
tomahawk  in  hand,  rushed  into  the  cabin  during  prayers,  and,  in 
a  menacing  tone,  ordered  all  to  leave.  Gravier  ordered  him,  in 
turn,  to  retire ;  and,  as  the  faithful  Christians  remained  firm,  the 
intruder  was  compelled  to  retire  baffled.  Such  an  outrage  in  the 
house  of  God  was,  the  missionaiy  deemed,  too  grave  to  let  pass: 
he  applied  to  the  commandant  of  the  French  fort,  but  was  himself 
overwhelmed  with  reproaches  and  accusations,  in  the  very  presence 
of  the  Indians.  Thus  left  exposed  to  every  violence,  the  missionary 
could  but  mourn  in  secret  over  the  blindness  which  had  aroused 
such  a  storm.  Meanwhile  the  poor  Illinois  maiden,  finding  that 
her  father  threatened  to  use  all  his  efforts  against  religion  if  she 
persisted,  repaired  to  Gravier.  Earnest  as  was  her  desire  to  lead 
a  life  of  virginity,  she  trembled  to  see  hei'self  and  her  tribe  deprived 
of  a  pastor.  "  Father !"  she  exclaimed,  "  I  have  a  thought,  and  I 
know  not  whetlier  it  is  good.  I  believe  that  if  I  consent  to  the 
marriage  my  father  will  listen  to  you,  and  induce  all  to  do  so.    I 


FKKNCIl   MISSIONS. 


417 


desire  to  please  Cfod,  and  would  wi.sh  to  remain  jus  1  am  to  be 
iiiTieeable  to  Christ ;  but  I  have  thought  of  consenting  against  my 
inclination  for  love  of  llim.  Will  this  be  right ;"  The  missiotiarv, 
moved  at  her  piety,  approved  her  thought;  but  bade  her  tell  her 
j'.irents  distinctly  that  she  did  not  yield  to  their  inenaces,  but  simply 
bt'cause  she  hoped  that,  by  marrying  a  Chnstian,  she  could  more 
easily  gain  them  to  Christ. 

This  she  did,  and  consented  to  become  the  wife  of  Michael  Ako,* 
more  a  victim  than  a  bride.  On  this  her  father  submitted,  and 
publicly  disavowed  all  that  he  had  said  against  the  Black-gown. 
After  her  marriage  her  life  was  of  the  greatest  purity  and  virtue. 
By  her  example  and  exhortations  she  soon  converted  her  husband, 
whose  profligacy  had  been  notorious.  Reverses  overtook  him,  and 
his  only  consolation  in  the  general  odium  raised  against  him 
was  the  practice  of  liis  religion,  and  the  society  of  his  pious  and 
devoted  wife. 

This  elect  soul  was  the  great  comfort  of  the  missionary.  Iler 
love  for  Jesus,  her  devotion  to  Mary,  her  zeal  for  the  conversion  of 
her  countiymen  were  truly  remarkable.  When  asked  whether 
she  loved  the  Mother  of  the  Redeemer,  she  replied  :  "  I  do  nothing 
but  call  her  my  mother,  and  beg  her,  by  every  expression  of  endear- 
ment, to  adopt  me  as  her  daughter ;  for  if  she  is  not  my  mother, 
and  will  not  regard  me  as  a  child,  how  can  I  conduct  myself?  I 
am  but  a  child,  and  know  not  how  to  pray :  I  beg  her  to  teach  me 
what  to  say  to  defend  myself  against  the  evil  one,  who  attacks  me 
incessantly,  and  will  make  me  fall,  if  I  have  not  recourse  to  her, 
and  if  she  does  not  shield  me  in  her  arms  as  a  good  mother  does 
a  frightened  child." 

As  may  be  supposed,  her  virtue  gave  her  a  wonderful  influence 
in  the  tribe,  and  her  father's  position  Jis  chief  redounding  on  her- 


*  Sometimes  written  d'Acau.  The  noble  prefix  was  claimed,  probably, 
from  his  having  been  a  member  of  La  Salle's  expedition,  to  whom  it  was 
granted  by  the  king. 

18* 


^ 


418 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


r!  -I' 


self,  giiVG  (^liristiai)ity  a  foothold  it  had  never  yet  acquired,  llcr 
parc'Ut.s'  conversion  was  now  her  great  object :  they  were  long  deaf 
to  all  her  entreaties, — filled  with  bitterness  against  Gravier  tor  his 
supposed  opposition  to  the  marriage,  and  giving  full  credit  to  all 
that  Ako  liad  then  said.  Conscious  at  1  ust  of  this,  the  now  iv- 
jxjntant  Frenchman  disavowed  all  that  he  had  said  against  tin- 
missionaries.  On  this  the  chief  and  his  wife  called  upon  (iravitr 
to  instruct  them.  Summoning  the  chiefs  of  the  various  villages  li. 
a  public  banquet,  the  Kaskaskia  sachem  openly  renounced  all  their 
superstitions,  and  urged  them  no  longer  to  thwart  their  own  haji- 
piness  by  resisting  the  grace  of  Christianity  which  God  oftered  thciii. 
His  wife  made  a  similar  address  to  the  women  ;  and  when  Gravit  r 
had  duly  instructed  them,  he  traversed  the  villages,  calling  all  to 
the  chapel  to  witness  the  ceremony  of  their  baptism. 

Duiing  the  summer,  sickness  ravaged  their  villages,  and  many 
were  again  opposed  to  Gravier.  Regarding  him  as  "the  bird  of 
death,"  the  source  of  tlie  malady,  they,  in  their  incantations, 
mimicked  and  ridiculed  bis  ceremonies ;  but  he  fearlessly  remained 
undeterred  by  their  threats  of  personal  violence.  Strong  in  the 
support  of  the  chief,  who  soon,  amid  the  ingratitude  of  the  French, 
showed  the  power  of  rehgion  in  checking  his  vengeance,  the  niis- 
sionaiy  struggled  on  with  the  medicine-men,  even  holding  his 
meetings  of  Christians  in  their  cabins  to  prevent  their  being  used 
for  superstition,  and  throwing  down  the  heathenish  poles  to  which 
dogs  and  other  offerings  were  attached. 

During  the  absence  of  the  tribe  on  the  winter  hunts,  Madame 
Ako  regularly  assembled  the  children,  who  remained  at  her  house 
for  catechism,  and  herself  fully  instructed,  rendered  great  service  to 
the  mission.  GraWer  himself  at  other  seasons  catechized  all,  and 
especially  adults,  using  copperplate  engravings  of  the  scenes  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testament,  as  texts  for  oral  discourses.  Madame 
Ako  soon  leanied  the  nan-ative  connected  with  each  cut,  and  bor- 
rowing them,  gathered  not  only  her  class  around  her,  but  the 


*/ 


:3. 


FllENC'll    MISSIONS. 


419 


acquirccl.  llor 
y  were  long  tKaf 
,t  Gmvier  for  liis 
full  credit  to  all 
his,  the  now  n- 
said  against  tilt- 
ed upon  (jiravirr 
arious  villages  to 
nounced  all  tlnir 
•t  their  own  h:iji- 
iod  ottered  thoii. 
,nd  when  (Jravicr 
;es,  calling  all  tti 

Uagcs,  and  many 

II  as  "the  bird  of 

eir   incantations, 

arlessly  remained 

Strong  in  the 

,0  of  the  Frenc'li, 

,geance,  the  niis- 

ven  holding  his 

their  being  used 

poles  to  which 

hunts,  Madame 
led  at  her  house 

great  service  to 
Jtechized  all,  and 
the  scenes  of  tlie 
lurses.  Madame 
Icb  cut,  and  bor- 

id  her,  but  the 


oMt'st  of  the  village,  explaining  more  intt  lligihly  than  the  nus- 
sioiiary  what  scene  in  Holy  ^^'rit  was  there  portrayed.  So  great  wa.s 
the  impulse  given  by  these  means  to  Christianity,  that  in  the  cate- 
cliotical  instru(;tions  which  he  gave  every  evening  for  two  hours, 
<  iravier  had  three  fourths  of  the  Kaskaskia  villag*}  crowded  into  his 
( ahin,  old  and  young,  chiefs  and  matrons,  all  ready  to  answer  the 
(jik'stions  of  the  catechism,  and  eager  to  receive  a  token  of  the 
missionary's  approval ;  while  their  children,  day  and  night,  sang  in 
thf  village  streets  the  hymns  which  Gravier  had  composed,  embody- 
iii2-  the  truths  of  Christianitv. 

Such  is  the  brief  gleam  of  the  Illinois  mission  in  1003,  during 
eight  months  of  which  Father  Gravier  baptized  200  souls,  many 
of  them  infants,  who  soon  after  died,  and  whom  he  was  enabled  to 
bathe  in  the  sacramental  waters  only  by  stratagem. 

His  chief  progress  was,  as  we  liave  seen,  in  the  Kaskaskia  tribe : 
the  Peorias  were  more  obstinate.  The  Tamarois  and  Cahokias  he. 
would  fain  have  visited ;  but  he  was  alone  in  the  land,  and  when 
tlui  Osages  and  Missouris,  men  of  another  language,  came  to  pray 
liiin  to  visit  their  cabins,  he  could  only  promise  to  do  what  in  him 
lay  to  reach  their  land.* 

Of  his  labore  in  the  ensuing  yeare  we  have  but  scanty  data :  his 
name  appeal's  at  various  intervals  on  a  register  of  baptisms  from 
March  20,  1095,  to  February  22,  1099.f 

(iravier  was,  as  Marest  informs  us,  recalled  to  Mackinaw,  and 
succeeded  by  Father  Julien  Binneteau,  whom  we  have  seen  as  a 
missionary  in  Maine  in  1093,  and  who  was  on  the  St.  Lawrence 
in  the  following  year;  and  by  Father  Francis  Pinet,  who  founded 
the  mission  of  Tamaroa,  and  was  certainly  in  Illinois  in  1*700. 
P>inneteau's  name  is  not  in  the  catalogue  of  that  year.     Of  him  we 

*  "Journal  dc  la  Mission  de  I'Imninculeo  Conception  de  Notre  Dnine  uux 
Illinois,  15th  Feb.,  1694,"  MS.  I  am  indebted  for  a  copy  of  this  long  and  very 
interesting  letter  to  the  Hon.  Jared  Sparks. 

+  IViIIon'.s  History  of  Indiana,  1. 


'iM-^i  ! 


420 


AMEKICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


know,  that  followiiif^  tlie  tiibo  to  tlic  upland  plains  of  Missouri, 
stilled  with  the  heat  amid  the  tail  pfiuss,  he  contracted  a  deadly 
fever,  and  exj»ire<l  in  the  arms  of  Father  (labriel  Marest,  who,  after 
being  delivered  from  captivity  in  England,  had  returned  to  Canada.*' 
The  French  had,  meanwhile,  under  Ilnirville,  reached  the  mouth 
of  the  Mississippi  by  sea,  and  projected  »  settlement.  One  year 
after  this  we  Hnd  Father  (Jravier,  in  1  TOO,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
great  liver  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  Freiieh  vesst'ls,  from  which 
ho  expected  a  necessary  sup))ly  of  articles  for  his  Illinois  missioii.f 
He  then  apparently  returned  to  his  mission  and  continued  his 
labors.  Comnumication  wjis  now  oj>ened  between  the  Illinois 
country  and  Fort  Biloxi.  F'ather  Lymoges,  stationed  at  first  among 
the  Ouni.'is  in  the  lower  Mississippi,  probably  ascended  with  Gravier. 
F^athei-s  Pinet  and  Bovio  were  also  there,  with  Marest ;  but  Bovic, 
de  Lymoges,  and  Gravier  disappeared  in  1703,  and  in  1704  Pinet 
died,  having  founded  the  Tamaroa  mission,  and  obtained  such 
benedictions  of  heaven  by  his  zeal  and  labors  that  his  church  could 
not  contain  the  crowds  that  flocked  to  it.  Bovie,  and  apparently 
Lymoges,  had  been  withdrawn ;  Gravier  returned  to  Peoria,  and 
renewed  his  labors ;  but  the  medicine-men  excited  a  sedition, 
in  which  the  missionary  was  dangerously  wounded,  and  narrowly 
escaped  with  life.  He  descended  to  Mobile,  which  he  reached  on 
the  11  th  of  January,  1700  ;  but  his  wound,  aggravated  by  the  heat 
and  motion  of  his  long  voyage  down,  proved  fatal.J 

*  He  was  carried  off  from  Hudson's  Bay  in  1695,  and  as  Binneteau's  name  is 
not  in  the  catalofjuc  of  1700  or  1703,  his  death  must  be  between  1695  and  17*0. 

t  SauvoUe,  in  Louis.  Hist.  Coll.  ili.  237. 

X  La  Harpc,  in  Louis.  Hist.  Coll.  iii.  36.  Father  James  Gravier  is  said  by 
a  very  incorrect  writer  to  have  been  born  at  Lunel  in  Languedoc.  The  time 
of  his  arrival  in  Canada  is  uncertain.  He  was  at  Sillery  in  the  fall  of  16S4, 
and  the  ensuing  spring,  but  must  have  gone  west  soon  after,  as  he  appears 
connected  with  the  Illinois  mission  from  1688  till  his  death  in  1706.  Of  his 
philological  labors  wo  have  already  spoken.  Ho  first  reduced  the  Illiuois 
language  to  grammatical  rules.  Some  of  his  works  are  believed  to  have  been 
in  the  possession  of  the  late  Ethnological  Society  at  New  York. 


CIIAPTKIi    XXIM. 

nili    ILLINOIS    MISSION  —  (CONTINIEI).) 

The  pricfttj*  «if  tlio  forelu'n  iiil.'o'ions— Montiirny— HfrsU-r  ,it  ('ntiiiki;i— His  trials  and 
(liath— Mornu't  on  tlio  (Hilo— Do  Villo  ainoiiu'  tlm  riMiilu.'* — Miainl  mission  of  St 
.Jofoph's — Tlio  ruinous  Jansi-nist  Vftriot— (k-nerHl  view  of  iiiission— C'liarlevoix's 
vi>it— I'atluT  ](•  llotilunffor  mul  his  literary  liihors— Ail  th»-  Iliiiiois  sottU-  on  Iho 
hunks  of  the  Mississiiipi — Tiu-  ehieftain  t'hic,i!.'o— Kiil"Kimn  of  tlio  inl-.sionaries — 
Father  Doiitrelcau  and  his  narrow  cscai»t'— Father  Senat  an<l  his  (.'lorioiis  deatii — 
Mociinc  of  the  missions— reriod  of  war — (lihanlt,  the  link  of  tlie  old  and  new  line  of 
ini>MonarU'S — Flajrct — Ulvet— Tho  t'hief  I'iskewah,  or  Kleliardvlllt)— The  Indian  cle- 
ment in  tho  French  poimlatiun. 

The  Illinois  mission,  thinned  l»y  tiicsf  insscs,  (jcvoivcd  now  on 
Marost  and  P'ather  .laincs  Mcrnn't,  whose  h.-imk'  apjtcars  as  t'arlv 
as  1700.*  They  wvn;  nno(jual  to  the  task  Itdoiv  tlu'in.  Coad- 
jutors were  not  wanting  tVoni  an  institute  which  owes  its  en'ation 
to  the  Society  of  Jesus.  T\n'  Seminary  of  the  ^oii'ign  >rissions  at 
Paris  rose  from  a  sodality  of  the  lilessed  Virofin,  such  as  the 
Jesuits  everywhere  established.  One  of  its  earliest  ornaments  was 
Laval,  the  first  bishop  of  Quebec,  who  founded  a  similar  seminary  at 
his  see.  Foreign  missions  being  its  peculiar  object,  it  soon  looked 
towards  the  West,  and  as  early  as  1699,  Francis  J.  de  Montigny, 
Vicar-General  of  Quebec,  and  Antoine  Davion,  proceeded  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  in  July  reached  Biloxi.f  Others  followed,  and  now 
Taniaroa,  the  mission  of  Father  Pinet,  was  confided  to  their  care. 
A  grant  of  land  secured  the  permanency  of  their  mission,  which 

*  I  cannot  explain  a  passage  in  Marest's  letter,  wlicre  lie  says,  that  after 
the  death  of  Binneteau  and  Pinet,  he  was  alone  till  Mcrinct's  arrival.  Bin- 
ncteau  died  before  1700,  as  his  name  is  jiot  on  the  catalogue  of  that  year. 
I'inet's  is  on  that  of  1700  and  1703,  so  that  he  must  have  died  in  1703  or 
170-4  at  the  earliest,  and  yet  Mermet  is  on  tlic  list  of  1700  and  1703. 

+  Sauvolle,  in  Louis,  llist.  Coll.  iii.  227  ;  Ferland,  Notes. 


1 


422 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


was  loiii^  tVuitt'ul  ill  good.  Tlio  fust  of  tlicir  (clergymen  sent  to 
Calioki.'i,  as  the  post  was  inoro  g^'Hcrally  <-alli'<l,  was  Mr.  Jolm 
lieririer,  a  iiiaii  of'tnu'  iiiciit  and  most  austere  lite.  Being  unused 
to  Indian  customs,  and  ii^noiant  ot"  their  laniruau'e,  lie  was  soon  in 
(lillieulty.  The  medi(;ine-men,  awed  by  Tinet,  now  seized  theii" 
oi»])ort unity,  and  souglit  to  obtain  the  upper  liand,  and  actually 
drew  oil"  some  recent  converts;  but  Heigier  was  soon  able  to  cojx' 
with  his  antagonists.  He  restored  peace  to  liis  little  church,  and 
soon  saw  it  increase  in  numbers  and  tervor.  His  health,  however, 
tailed,  and  Father  Marest,  then  at  Kuskaskia,  which  had  already 
assumed  its  present  position,  hastened  to  his  relief,  lie  found 
liergier  ill  indeed,  but  that  zealous  nnssi<inary  soon  rallied,  lie 
urged  Marest  to  return  to  his  post ;  but  soon  after  the  departure 
of  the  Jesuit  Father,  he  again  relapsed,  and  finding  it  too  late  to 
recall  him,  prepared  for  death,  and  i)ressing  his  crucifix  to  his  lij)s, 
expired.*  While  the  inedi(tine-men  danced  in  triumph,  glorying 
in  his  death,  and  broke  the  cross  which  he  had  })lanted.  Christian 
iiinuei*s  hastened  to  Marest,  who  came  to  render  the  last  rites  to 
his  deceased  fellow^aborer.f 

By  this  time,  then,  we  see  two  regular  missions — one  at  Ta- 
inaroa,  thus  depnved  of  its  second  pastor,  the  other  at  Kaskaskia, 
under  Father  Marest.  Father  Mermet,  meanwhile,  was  at  a  new 
French  post  on  the  Ohio,  founded  by  Juchereau,  laboring  almost 
in  vain  among  a  party  of  Mascoutens  who  had  migrated  to  that 
river.  Peoria,  where  Gravier  received  his  death-wound,  had  been 
for  a  time  the  station  of  Marest,  but  was  now  vacant,  and  the  In- 
dians, in  punishment  for  their  cruelty  to  their  late  missionaiy,  were 

*  Marest,  in  Lett.  Edif.,  and  Kip's  Jen.  Missions,  214. 

t  Jolin  Bergier,  priest  of  the  Seminary  oftlio  Foreifrn  Missions,  is  said  to 
have  arrived  in  1(583.  lie  readied  the  Illinois  country  after  the  spring  "f 
1604,  and  in  all  probability  as  hitc  as  17"4,  tlie  earliest  period  to  be  asssitriicMl 
to  I'inet's  death.  His  own  decease  took  place,  according  to  Noiseux,  on  the 
16th  of  July,  1710,  in  liis  SSth  year.  It  is  mentioned  in  Marest's  letter  "f 
November,  1712.     Kip's  .les.  Mis>ions,  211. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


423 


cut  off  from  tlic  French  trade.  Marest  visited  tht'iii  again  in  l  Til, 
.'iiid  found  tlieni  liunibhxl  and  conscious  of  tlieir  fault.  The  chiefs 
implored  him  to  renew  his  mission,  promising  to  destroy  the  power 
of  the  medicine-men,  and  hearken  to  the  voice  of  the  missionary. 
From  the  Jipparent  sincerity  of  their  lepentance,  Father  Marest, 
then  on  his  way  from  Mackinaw,  promised  to  return  to  his  old 
j)ost,  but  on  reaching  Kjiskaskia,  found  the  French  and  Intlians 
there  so  much  opposed  to  his  removal,  that  he  sent  Father  de 
Ville,  who  had  recently  joined  the  mission,  to  renew  the  faith 
among  the  Peorias.  Do  Ville  was  a  man  of  zeal  and  talent,  and 
possessed  of  the  ail  of  winning  Indians,  so  that  the  progress  of  the 
mission  was  rapid. 

Ik-sides  these  Illinois  missions,  there  existed  a  mixed  one  on  St. 
Joseph's  River,  to  which  we  have  already  alluded.*  La  Salle,  on 
his  way  to  the  Mississippi,  had  built  a  temporary  fort  on  that 
river,  not  tiar  from  the  portage  leading  to  the  Theakiki.  Here  his 
party  rested  for  a  time ;  but  no  Indians  seem  to  have  been  near, 
and  had  they  been,  the  Recollects  were  not  acquainted  with  their 
language.  Soon  after  his  time,  however,  a  band  of  Miamis  settled 
on  the  northern,  and  a  band  of  Pottawotamies  on  the  southern 
shore,  near  the  fort.  Father  AUouez  was  soon  placed  here,  but 
when,  precisely,  does  not  appear.  Father  John  B.  Chardon,  who 
was  on  the  Ottawa  mission  as  early  as  1700,  was  stationed  here 
in  1711.  According  to  Marest,  he  was  a  missionary  of  great  zeal 
and  rare  facility  in  acquiring  Indian  languages.  This  mission  is 
tlie  first  among  the  Miamis  after  that  at  Mascoutens,  founded  bv 
Allouez,  where  some  Miamis  were  found. 

Such  were  the  mission-posts  in  Illinois  and  on  its  bordere  in 
1712.  St.  Joseph's  for  the  Miamis  and  POttnwotamics,  under 
Chardon ;  Peoria,  under  de  Ville ;  and  Kaskaskia,  under  Marest 


*  It  wtia  partly  Pottawotaniio.     At  thirf  time  tlio   Miamis  ooi)sisti'<l    of 
three  villagos — one  on  the  St.  JosepliV,  one  on  tiie  Maumce,  and  ttio  otlnT 


on  the  Wabash,    (^'liarlevobc,  v.  278. 


424 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


I.l    i 

< 

1  ■  ■ 

1 

» 

■■  i 

I 

1  , 

[ 

1 1 

J    ! 


and  Mcinit't,  wlio  had  joined  him.  Taniaroa  was  not  long  unoc- 
cupied. As  successor  to  13ergier,  cauie,  piobahly  in  1712,  Dom- 
inic Mary  \'arlet,  a  doctor  of  tlie  Sorbonne,  whose  subsequent 
career  was  a  scandal  to  the  Church.  For  nearly  six  years  he  was 
a  zealous  and  laborious  missionary  amon^  the  Illinois,  but  on  his 
return  to  Europe,  where  he  was  raised  to  the  ej)iscopacy  as  Coad- 
jutor of  Babylon,  in  1718,  he  avowed  his  Jansenistical  doctrines, 
became  the  head  of  the  schismatic  church  of  Utrecht,  and  died 
interdicted,  deposed,  and  excommunicated  by  three  successive 
popes.*  About  the  same  time  the  Rev.  Philip  Boucher  is  said  to 
have  labored  in  Illinois,  chiefly  at  Fort  St.  Louis.f 

Of  the  other  missions,  till  1721,  nothing  is  recorded;  but  we 
may  here  give  some  idea  of  their  position  and  success,  as  well  as 
of  the  labors  of  the  devoted  missionaries.  Not  even  at  this  epoch 
was  the  whole  Illinois  nation  converted.  Few,  indeed,  of  the  Peo- 
rias  had  bowed  to  the  cross,  and,  as  we  have  seen,  the  pagan  party 
at  Tamaroa  was  still  powerful.  Yet  the  Chiistians  were  no  in- 
considerable body,  forming  the  very  elite  of  the  nation.  Before 
their  convereion,  cruel  and  licentious  to  the  most  frightful  degree, 
the  Illinois  had,  under  the  influei'ce  of  religion,  softened  their  sav- 
age customs,  and  became  so  j  ure  in  morals,  that  the  French 
settlers  frequently  chose  wives  from  the  Indian  villages.     These 

*  He  was  at  Quebec  in  1717,  about  to  return  in  the  spring  with  another 
priest.— Poor's  Paris  Doc.  vii.  124.  lie  died  in  1742.  See  de  la  Tour,  Vie 
do  Mgr.  Laval,  101 ;  Feller,  Diction. ;  Kohrbacher,  Ilistoire  Gen.  de  TEglir^c, 
xxvii.  155. 

+  Noiseux  is  the  only  '•.iithority  for  tliis.  According  to  him,  this  clcrcry- 
man,  born  at  Quebec,  ar  d  ordained  there  in  IGSi),  set  out  lor  Illinois  in  16'JJ, 
and  Avas  with  Bergicr  till  1696.  After  which  he  labored  in  Arkansas,  but 
returning  to  Illinois,  died  at  hi.^  mission  of  St.  Louis  in  '719.  Much  of  tiiis 
is  at  variance  with  all  other  accounts,  but  as  it  may  lead  to  some  better  date, 
we  insert  it.  He  was,  according  to  M.  T  Abbe  Ferland,  son  of  Pierre  Boucher, 
Governor  of  Three  Kivers,  and  autliof  of  a  work  on  Canada. 

Noiseux  also  ranks  Mr.  Geotl'roy  Thierry  Erborie  among  these  mission- 
aries, and  states  tliat  he  died  in  Illinois  in  1727.  As  to  the  credit  to  bo 
given,  however,  to  this  work  of  Mr.  N.,  see  Martin,  lielations  des  Jesuitcs, 
]-'nillon.  Vio  de  M.  Bourueovs,  i.  375. 


not  long  unoc- 
in  1712,  Dom- 
ose  subsequent 
ix  vears  he  was 
nois,  but  on  his 
opacy  {IS  Coad- 
itical  doctrines, 
recht,  and  died 
hree  successive 
ucher  is  said  to 

corded ;  but  we 

Kcess,  as  well  as 

sn  at  this  epoch 

i3ed,  of  the  Peo- 

:he  pagan  party 

ins  were  no  in- 

nation.     Before 

ightful  degree, 

tened  their  sav- 

at  the  Frencli 

illages.     These 

ing  with  aiiotlicr 

de  la  Tour,  Vie 

Gen.  de  TEglisc, 

^lim,  this  clcnry- 
Ulinois  in  IG'JJ, 
|n  Arkansas,  but 
Much  of  th'w 
[ome  better  date, 
Pierre  Bouclicr, 

tlieso  misslon- 
[ho  credit  to  bo 
Ins  des  Jcsuites 


FKEXCH   MISSIONS. 


425 


intermarriages  are  indeed  represented  as  so  frequent,  that  we  must 
consider  the  present  French  families  of  Indiana  ?'miI  Illinois  as  to 
some  extent  representing  the  Illinois  Indians,  whose  blood  tlows  so 
freely  in  their  veins.  The  labors  of  the  niissi(»naiy  here,  sis  among 
the  Abnakis  of  Maine,  had  two  fields — tin?  villages  at  one  season, 
the  hunting  or  fishing  ground  at  others ;  being  thus  partly  fixed, 
and  partly  nomadic.  The  Illinois  had  two  great  bufialo  hunts — 
the  short  but  severe  siunmer  hunt  on  the  parched  upland  plains, 
and  the  winter  one,  which  lasted  four  or  five  months.  All  the 
rlans  went  on  these  hunts,  except  some  Kaskaskias,  who  preferred 
a  permanent  abode.  The  missionary  had  to  follow  his  tlock  of 
hunters,  and  undercfo  incredible  fatiirue  in  visiting  the  scattered 
huts.  Those  who  were  separated  from  the  missionary  assembled 
at  night  in  a  largt;  cabin  for  prayers,  aiid  recited  in  their  chanting 
wav  the  rosary,  so  dear  to  all  Catholic  converts. 

The  village  aftbrded  the  missionary  greater  consolation  by  the 
ivguiarity  which  prevailed.  ''Early  in  the  morning,"  says  Marest, 
"we  assemble  the  catechumens  in  the  chiirch,  where  they  say 
prayers,  receive  an  instruction,  and  sing  some  hynms;  then  the 
catechumens  retire,  and  niass  is  said  for  the  Christians,  who  sit 
as  in  all  Indian  churches,  the  two  sexes  on  difterent  sides ;  then 
follow  morjiing  prayers  jind  an  instruction,  after  which  they  dis- 
perse to  their  several  avocations.'"  The  missionary's  day  was  theti 
taken  up  by  visits  to  the  sick, 'in  which  he  was  often  obliged  to 
become  physician  to  body  as  well  as  soul,  comforting,  consoling, 
instructing  all.  The  afternoon  was  set  apart  for  those  regular 
catechetical  instructi<'iis  by  whi(di  the  truths  of  religion  were  in- 
culcated, in  old  and  young,  till  they  became  a  part  of  their 
tiioiights,  a  tradition  of  the  tribe,  for  thus  alone  can  any  natiijn 
hocome  Christian.  The  chapel  at  sunset  was  filled  again  by  the 
\illage,  assembled  for  evening  prayor,  and  in  responsive  cliaiit 
tlit'V  closed  the  day  as  piously  as  it  bogan.  This  was  the  ordinal y 
•lav.     Sundays  and  holidays  witnessed  still  greater  devotion,  and 


426 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


cacli  Saturday  tlio  confossional  was  thronged  by  fervent  penitents, 
fur  most  of  tilt!  Illinois  C.'atlKjlics  ivceivod  every  fortniufht.* 

III  1721,  Fatlier  Cliarievoix  visited  these  missions.  As  we  have 
aheady  stated,  lie  found  tlie  Mianiis  and  Pottawotaniies  of  St. 
Joscpli's  almost  all  Christians,  but,  from  tlic  long  absence  of  a  mis- 
sionary, fallen  into  great  disorders,  so  that  it  would  require  great 
ctlorts  to  revive  piety  among  them. 

Peoria,  which  rewarded  (iravier's  labors  with  death,  and  had, 
on  its  repentance,  been  assigned  to  Father  Louis  de  Ville,  was 
again  without  a  missionary,  and  almost  entirely  pagan.  Yet  it 
})res(.'nt(*d  hopes.  The  gieat  chiof  wore  on  his  breast  a  cross  and 
a  figure  of  the  lilessed  Virgin,  lie  had  found  the  latter,  and  wore 
it  with  confidence  when  told  that  it  represented  the  Virgin  Mother 
of  (iod  ;  tliat  the  infant  in  her  arms  was  the  Redeemer  of  man- 
kind ;  that  slie  was  the  help  of  Christians  invoked  by  them  in  the 
liour  of  danger.  Believing  this,  one  day,  when  a  lurking  Fox  In- 
dian aimed  at  him,  he  invoked  Ma'y,  for  his  own  gun  was  un- 
loaded. The  Fox  five  times  missed  fire,  and  as  tlie  Peoria  had 
now  his  gun  to  his  shoulder,  the  other  surrendered,  and  the  votai y 
of  Mary  led  him  in  triumph  to  the  village.  At  the  time  of  Char- 
levoix's visit,  the  chief's  little  daughter  was  dying,  and  he  brought 
her  to  the  missionary  to  be  b.iptized.f 

The  chief  missions  were  now  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississipj)!. 
The  Cahokias  and  Tamaroas  under  the  priests  of  the  F'oreign  Mis- 
sions ;  the  Kaskaskias,  Christian  IVorias,  and  the  Metchigameas,  a 
tiibe  whom  INfarquette  found  near  the  Arkansas,  still  under  tiio 
Jesuits.  None  of  the  missionaries  named  by  Marest  remaincii. 
That  illustrious  Father,  whose  name  is  so  intimately  associate"] 
with  the  Illinois  mission,  had  Ix-en  apparently  recalled,  for  his 
di'ath  is  said  to  liavo  occurred  some  y«'arf>  later.;j| 


*  Marest,  in  Lett.  E<llf.  ;  Kip.  +  Cliarlcvoix,  vi.  l'2'.i. 

X  Noiseiix.     15csidos  liis  missions  in  Illinois,  V.  Gubriel  Marest  was  oiii 


ii'vent  penitents, 
•tui<^ht.* 
IS.  As  we  bjuo 
wotaniies  of  St. 
bsonce  of  a  mis- 
Id  require  great 

death,  and  had, 
lis  de  Ville,  was 

pagan.  Yet  it 
east  a  cross  and 
!  latter,  and  wore 
»e  Virgin  Motlior 
ideenier  of  nian- 
l  by  them  in  tlie 

hu-king  Fox  In- 
\vn  gun  was  nn- 

the  Peoria  liad 
1,  and  the  votary 

le  time  of  Cliar- 

and  he  brought 

the  Mississipj)!. 

[lie  Foreign  Mis- 

yietchigamoas.  a 

still  under  the 
[arest  remained, 
lately  associateil 
[eealled,  for  his 


jrlcvoix,  vi.  120. 
^■l  Marc.Hl  was  em- 


FRE>'cii  :missions. 


427 


Cahokia  was  on  a  little  river  about  a  mile  from  the  Mississippi, 
which  was  gradually  retiring  on  that  si<K'.  ComixjSi'd  of  two 
tribes,  it  formed  a  large  town.  The  two  juissionaries  had  both,  in 
other  days,  been  pupils  of  Father  Charlevoix  at  Quebec.  At  the 
time  of  his  visit,  the  elder,  Dominic  Thaumur  de  la  Source,  who 
liad  been  stationed  there  at  least  two  years,*  was  absent ;  the  other, 
Le  Mercier,  a  man  feeble  in  health,  severe  to  himself,  but  full  of 
fharity  to  others,  and  inspiring  all  with  a  lo\e  of  virtue,  now 
.-tiuggling  with  a  mission  which  seemed  above  his  strength,  but 
whieh  he  attended  for  manv  years.f 

The  Kaskaskia  mission  had  just  been  divided  into  two :  one, 
stated  to  have  been  the  more  luimerous,  was  about  half  a  league 
above  old  Fort  Chartres,  within  gunshot  of  the  river.  It  was 
under  the  direction  of  Father  Joseph  Ignatius  le  lioulanger,  a  man 
nt"  great  missionary  tact  and  wonderful  skill  in  languages.  His 
Illinois  Catechism,  and  Instructions  in  the  same  dialect  forbearing 
mass  and  approaching  the  sacraments,  were  considered  by  other 
missionaries  as  masterpieces.  To  enable  the  latter  to  avail  them- 
selves of  his  labors,  he  added  a  literal  French  translation.  In 
1721,  he  was  assisted  by  Father  de  Kereben.|  The  Jesuit  Father 
do  IV'aubois  Avas  parish  priest  at  the  French  village  below  the  fort, 
and  the  second  Kaskaskia  village,  six  miles  inland,  was  directed  by 
Father  John  Charles  Guymonneau,  apparently  at  the  time  Supe- 
rior of  the  mission.§ 

Almost  all  the  Illinois  were  now  Christians,  and  greatly  attached 
to  the  French.  They  cultivated  the  ground  in  their  own  way, 
and  had  become,  under  the  influence  of  religion,  very  industrious, 
raising  poultry  and  live  stock  to  sell  to  the  French.     The  women 


jilDvi^d  ill  Hudson's  litjy,  and  tlinre  taken  prisoner  Ity  the  IJiirlisli.     IIo 
wrote  two  letters  in  the  Lottres  Edititintcs. 

■  Spaldini^'s  Life  ol'llislidp  Fla<,'cl,  I'jtJ.  t  H*-'  is  naint-d  in  I75t). 

t  Le  I'ctit,  in  Lettros  Kditiaiites  ;  Kip. 

^  Spalding's  Lite  of  Fliiiri'l,  1-'',  maizes  him  Siipi'rior  in  171'.'. 


428 


AMElilUAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


1    i 


■| 


wore  adroit,  wcavinij  of  ImtValo-liair  a  fine  fi^lossy  stuff,  which  they 
(lyeil  of  various  colors,  and  worked  into  dresses  for  themselves, 
inaiujfacturing  a  line  tliread  witii  i^reat  ini^enuity.* 

In  tlie  followiuLT  v»'ar  the  lUinoi.s  of  the  Rock  and  Piniileouv, 
lianissed  by  continual  attacks  from  the  Foxes,  resolved  to  ahaii- 
don  the  old  villages,!  and  join  their  countrymen  on  the  Mississijij/i. 
This  wiis  providential  for  them ;  for  they  had  long  been  too  far 
removed  from  the  missionaries  to  profit  by  their  instructions.  On 
the  banks  of  the  Mississipj)i  they  all  became  Christians,  led  by  the 
chief  who  had  already  such  confidence  in  Mary.| 

Louisiana  was  now  rising  in  importance,  and  on  its  organizjititni 
as  a  colony,  Illinois  became  subie(;t  to  its  ffovernmeut.  The 
Jesuits,  after  failing  at  fii'st,  were  at  last  established  at  the  moutii 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  their  Superior  at  New  Orleans  had  tlio 
superinteiulence  of  the  Illinois  mission.  Missionaries  for  the  Illi- 
nois country  now  came  by  way  of  the  Mississippi,  Thus,  in  172o. 
we  find  Fathers  de  I'u'aubois  and  de  Ville  ascending  the  river,  fol- 
lowed in  17*27  by  Fathers  Dunuis,  Tartarin,  and  Doutreleau.  At 
the  same  time  Father  le  Doulanger  was  still  Superior  of  the  Illi- 
nois mission,§  and  Father  C.  M.  Mesaiger  directed  the  Miami  mis- 
sion of  St.  Josej»h.|| 

The  Illinois  Christians  fretpiently  descended  to  New  Orleans, 
and  le  Petit  describes  the  edifying  conduct  of  a  party,  led  by  tluir 
excellent  chieftain,  Chicago.  "They  charmed  us,"  says  he, ''by 
their  piety  and  edifying  life.  Every  evening  they  recited  tlio 
beads  in  alteinafe  choirs,  and  every  morning  lieard  ir.y  mass, 
chanting  at  it,  especially  on  Sundays  and  holidays,  prayers  and 
hymns  suited  to  the  day.  They  are  well  acquainted  with  the  his- 
tory of  the  Old  and  New  Testament.     Their  manner  of  lieaiing 

*  Clnirlcvoix,  vi.  140. 

t  They  were  neur  Butlalo  Koek,  Lii  Salle  Co.  111. ;  Reynold's  111.  20. 

t  Charlevoix,  iv.  •2.!1.  §  Lo  Petit  in  Lott.  Edif. 

I  Register  of  St.  .losoph's,  1724. 


FKENCIl    MLSSIOXS. 


429 


mass  and  approaching  tijo  saciamonts  is  oxccllont.  Tlio  mission- 
aries <io  not  sufK-r  thcni  to  grow  np  in  ignorance  of  any  of  the 
iiivsteHi'S  of  reiiijfion  or  of  their  duties,  hut  irround  them  in  wiiat 
i>  fuiKhunental  and  essential,  whieli  they  incuicatt^  in  a  manner 
t.i|Mally  sound  and  instructive." 

(.'hicago  had  b«'en  in  France,  and  had  learned  the  advantages 
of  civilized  life.  Mamantouensa,  another  chief,  was  not  inferior  t<) 
liini.  Seeing  the  Ti-sulines  with  their  })U}>ils,  ]u\  exclaimed  to  one  : 
"  I  see  you  are  not  nuns  without  an  object.  You  are  like  otn- 
Kathers,  the  Black-gowns,  you  lahor  for  others.  Ah  I  if  wo  had 
tliri'e  or  four  of  vou,  our  wives  and  dauirhters  wouKl  have  more 
sense,  and  be  better  Christians."  "  Well,"  said  the  Mother  Suj>e- 
rior,  "  clioose  anv  that  vou  like."  "  It  is  not  for  me  to  choose," 
replied  the  truly  Christian  chief;  "it  is  for  you,  who  know  them; 
fur  the  choice  should  fall  on  those  who  are  most  attached  to  God, 
and  who  love  him  most."* 

Hitherto  we  have  cited  the  missionaries  themselves,  or  memlx'rs 
of  the  same  missionary  bodies.  Their  judgment  was  not  peculiar 
to  themselves.  While  the  Illinois  mission,  under  the  wise  guid- 
ance of  Ic  Boulanger,  was  rapidly  gaining  in  nnndx'i-s,  an  oflicer 
of  the  French  marine  in  Louisiana  writes:  "Nothing  is  more  edi- 
fying for  religion  than  the  conduct  and  unwearied  zeal  with  which 
the  Jesuits  labor  for  the  conversion  of  these  tfibes.  There  are  now 
Illinois,  Apalache,  even  Choctaw  Christians.  I'icture  to  yourself 
a  Jesuit  missionary  as  a  liero.  Four  hundred  leagues  away  in  the 
depths  of  the  forests,  without  comforts  or  supplies,  often  with  no 
resource  but  the  liberality  of  men  who  know  not  (Jod,  oblii^ed  to 
live  like  them,  to  pass  whole  years  with  no  tidings  of  their  coun- 
try, with  men  human  only  in  figure,  without  relief  or  seciety  in 
llic  hour  of  sickness,  constantly  exposed  to  perish  alone,  or  fall  by 
the  hand  of  violence.     Yet  this  is  the  daily  life  of  tlu-se  FatluMs 


fetit  in  Lott.  K>lif. 


*  Lo  Petit,  in  Lottros  JMifiiintes. 


480 


AMEIUCAN   CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


I 


i^i' 


in  Louisiana  and  Canada,  wliciv  many  have  shed  iheir  Mwod  l.-i 
the  faitii."* 

Louisiana  was  soon  to  see  licr  inissionarios  troa<l  (lu;  path  if 
those  of  C'anathi.  Before  the  descent  of  Chica«^o,  wliieh  we  ha\«' 
mentioned  (for  lie  and  his  pious  followers  were  a  war-])arty). 
Fathers  I'oisson  and  Souel  had  been  killed  by  the  Indians  in  tli.- 
rising  of  the  Natchez.  An  Illinois  missionary,  Father  Doutrelciii. 
was  well-ni<ijh  involved  in  the  massacre,  lie  had  set  out  on  tin- 
first  day  of  the  year  1*730,  and  deeminuf  it  imjjossible  to  readi 
Father  Souel's  chapel  in  time  to  say  mass,  landed  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Yazoo  to  offer  u})  the  holy  sacrifice.  A  rustic  altar  was  soun 
raised,  and  the  missionary  bcijfan  to  vest,  while  his  boatmen  loi- 
tered alonn;  the  shore,  tirinu;  at  the  wild-fowl.  Some  Indians  cam.' 
up,  and  to  their  hail,  respondeil,  "  Vazoos,  friends  of  the  Frencli ;" 
so,  without  ilelay,  all  knelt  down,  French  and  Indian,  alike  befoiv 
tlie  altar.  ,lust-iis  the  piiest  was  about  to  begin  the  glonous  cli.iiit 
of  the  angels  at  Bethlehem,  the  Indians,  who  knelt  behind,  tiiv<l, 
k'Uing  one  of  the  boatmen,  and  wounding  the  missionary  iii  the 
{irm.  His  companions  fled  to  their  boat,  but  Doutreleau  knelt  to 
receive  his  death-blow.  Wlien,  however,  they  had  twice  fired. 
and  twice  missed  him,  he  sprang  to  liis  feet,  and  enveloping  tli.' 
sacred  vessels  in  the  altar-cloth,  fled,  vested  as  he  was,  to  tln^ 
shore.  The  bo.at  had  put  oft*,  but  the  missionary,  though  woundeil 
again,  reached  it,  and  seizing  the  rudder,  urged  his  comrades  to 
}>ly  their  oars  vigorously.  The  hope  of  escape  was  almost  too 
slight  to  nerve  an  arm  with  vigor,  for  two  were  wounded,  all  un- 
armed, and  almost  destitute  of  provisions,  for  they  had  notliini: 
but  one  bit  of  pork.  Death  from  exhaustion  or  famine  seenieil 
their  oiJy  prospect,  could  they  even  distance  the  enemy ;  but  their 
trust  was  in  (»od.  For  an  hour  the  Yazoos  pressed  on  in  liot  pm- 
suit,  ])ouring  in  volley  after  volley  on  the  unarmed  French,  till  at 


*  Relation  dc  la  Louisianc  :  Amsterdam. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


431 


d  their  blood  I* 


i;ust  the  latter,  by  ach'oitly  showinjif  an  old  rusty  imiskot,  whe:i  tho 
pursuers  i'uuHi  too  near,  distanced  tlu'iu,  and  tho  Va/.oos  returned 
tu  bojist  of  havini;  killed  them  all.  After  nianv  other  dani;ers  uu 
llie  river,  Father  Doutreleau  and  his  companions  at  last  reached 
tile  French  camp  at  Tonicas. 

More  terrible  was  the  trial  of  another  Illinois  missionary,  Father 
S(  iiat.  As  the  Xatchez  ♦var  }>roceed<'d,  the  French  resolved  to 
attack  tho  Chickasaws  from  Louisiana  and  from  Illinois.  The  latter 
('Xpeditioii  was  led  by  Dartaguettes  and  Vincennes.  Senat  ae(;om- 
jianied  it  as  chaplain.  vSuccess  att«'nded  the  first  elVorts  of  tin; 
I'lvnch  and  Illinois  ;  but  at  a  third  fort,  meeting  a  determined  re- 
si>tance,  the  Illinois  jOjave  way,  and  the  French  were  surrounded. 
A  few  cut  their  way  throui^h;  the  rest  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
(  liickasaws.  liienville,  who  led  tho  expedition  from  Louisiana, 
?till  pressed  them  on  the  south,  and  the  prisoners  were  sj)are<lfora 
tinu'.  Amon<^  them  was  the  "  generous  Senat,  who  might  have  tied ; 
l>iit  regardless  of  danger,  mindful  only  of  «luty,  had  remained  on 
the  field  of  battle  to  receive  tho  last  sigh  of  the  wound«-'d."  WhiKi 
tiieir  fate  was  undecided  they  received  no  ill  treatment;  but  when 
liienville  retired,  the  prisonei's  were  brought  out,  tied  by  fours  to 
stakes,  and  put  to  death  with  all  the  refinement  of  Indian  ciuelty. 
One  alone  was  spared  to  record  the  story,  but  he  has  left  no  nar- 
rative of  their  last  scene.  We  only  know  that  to  the  htst  the  de- 
voted Jesuit  exhorted  his  companions  to  suffer  with  patience  and 
eourarre — to  lionor  their  reliirion  and  cc-imtry.* 

The  Illinois  mission  was  now  to  decline ;  the  mismanagement  of 
Louisiana  afiected  the  whole  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  The  fort 
in  Illinois,  gan'isoned  by  dissolute  soldiers,  where  licjuor  was  freely 
sold  to  the  Indians,  added  to  unsuccessful  wars,  tliiimed  down  the 
tribe,  so  that  in  iToO  there  were  but  two  Indian  mi-;Mons,  both  con- 


d  French,  till  :it 


*  Duinont,  ii.  229 ;  Charlovois,  iv.  298.     The  place  of  their  death  is  paid 
Vj  be  in  tho  present  county  of  Pontotoc,  Miss.     Kcynold's  Illinois.  40. 


48'i 


AMKKICAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


t   ■ 


Hi 


ducted  by  Jesuit  Fathers::  one  containinijsix  hundred  Indians  und^T 
Father  Franeis  Xavier  do  Ciuicnn*;  and  Father  f.oui.H  Vi\  ier,  thiii 
recently  arrived,  and  actually  studyintr  tlie  huii^uage  ;  the  oIIkt, 
still  smaller,  und<r  Father  Siihaslian  Jiouis  Mcurin,  prohahly  ;it 
Vinceiines.*  'I'lie  piiustsof  the  Seuiiiiary  of  I^Meign  Missions  ii.iij 
no  longer  any  charge  over  the  Illinois,  hut  continued  at  (.'aiiokii 
as  ]){i.stors  for  the  French.  A  third  Illinois  village  completed  tin' 
nation,  now  s(»  reduc(?d  that  it  could  not  j'aise  three  hundred  tiglit- 


ing-ineii. 


The  Miami  mission  liad  not  been  made  subject  to  Louisiana.  St. 
Joseph's  still  tlourished  under  tlie  care  of  Father  Jolni  liaptist  h;i- 
niorinie;f  an<l  among  the  Weas,  near  the  present  town  of  Lafay<tt<\ 
we  then  find  Father  l*ierre  du  Jaunay,  who  liad  been  at  St.  Joseph's 
in  Ili5.l 

Twelve  years  later  Choiseul  drove  the  French  Jesuits  from  tlnir 
colleges,  and  surrenden-d  the  possessions  of  France  in  North 
America  to  England  and  Spain.  The  centre  of  the  mission  at  Ni  v> 
Orleans  was  suppressed  in  17G2,  and  all  further  reinforcement  was 
cut  oti'  from  the  Illinois  mission.  Part  of  the  Jesuit  property  in 
Illinois  had  been  sold  by  the  French  government,§  and  the  mean^ 
of  the  missionaries  thus  reduced. 

The  Fathers  generally  remained  as  secular  priests  in  their  former 
missions,  under  the  authority  of  the  Bishop  of  Quebec,  till  one  by  one 
they  died  off.  Gagnon,  Vivier,  Meurin,  and  others  ended  their  lives 
where  they  had  hibored.  Father  Peter  Potier,  the  last  Jesuit  in  the 
West,  was  at  St.  Joseph's  in  iTol,  and  frequently  visited  the  Illi- 
nois country  down  to  liis  death  in  1781  at  Detroit. 

The  great  political  changes  l>y  which  the  flags  of  France,  Fug- 


I,   , 


*  Mcurin  was  at  Vinccnnes  from  1740  to  17r)3;  Vivier,  from  1753  to  17'>ij; 
and  Julian  Duvcrnay,  the  lust  Jesuit,  from  17oG  to  October,  1703.  IJejris^tir 
cited  by  SpaUliu}?,  IJfc  of  Fla<?et,  41.  The  body  of  Father  Mcurin  wasu 
few  years  since  transferred  to  St.  Louis. 

t  Reg.  St.  Joscpli's,  J  Spaldingr,  41.        §  Kcynold's  lllinoiss,  p.  <'i?. 


red  Indians  undtT 
Louis  Vivier,  tln'ii 
^unge  ;  the  otii.r, 
iirin,  j>r«>l)al»ly  :it 
eigti  Missions  had 
inucd  at  I'ahokia 
ga  I'ompioted  tin- 
ree  liundrod  Hijlit- 

to  Louisiana.   Si. 

Joliii  Haptist  l-:i- 
toun  of  Lafayette, 
eon  at  St.  Joseph's 

Jesuits  from  their 
Frauee  in  North 
he  mission  at  X<\v 
reinfoi'cenietit  was 
Jesuit  property  in 
,§  aud  the  moans 

(sts  in  their  former 
>cc,  till  one  by  one 
ended  their  lives 
last  Jesuit  in  the 
■  visited  the  llli- 
t. 
of  France,  Knir- 


from  17')3tc)  IT.'"-: 
Iber,  17G3.  Ke-ri^ttr 
Ither  Meurin  was  a 

I's  Illinois,  p.  "1-. 


FRKNCH    MISSIONS. 


433 


land,  and  the  United  States,  in  (iui<'k  succession,  floated  over  the 
Illinois  country,  with  the  Miami  war,  which  ensued  tii«?  American 
occnpation,  Jiad  prevented  any  new  oriranization  of  the  missions. 
The  llov.  Mr.  (Jibauit,  who  was  there  during  the  brief  Kurdish  nde, 
and  down  nearly  to  the  close  of  the  century,  ministered  foi"  manv 
years  to  both  French  and  Indians :  Fh*ij^<'t,  afterwards  liishop  of 
Hardstown  and  Louisville,  was  for  a  time  at  Vincennes,  followed  bv 
liivet,  a  priest  driven  from  France  by  the  Uevolution — a  man  of 
jearninff  and  abilitv.  1  )urini;  his  ministry  at  Vincennes,  from  1795 
to  1804,  Rivet  devoted  himself  especially  to  the  Indian  tribes  in  that 
territory.  In  his  Keo-istei*s  he  styles  himself  "  Missionar\' to  the 
Indians,  temporanly  olKciatinuj  in  the  parish  of  St.  Francis  Xavier." 
God  rewarded  his  zeal  with  abundant  fruits ;  liis  Registers  show 
haptisms  and  marriages  of  many  Indians  of  ditierent  tribes — l*ot- 
tawotamies,  Weas,  riankeshaws,  Miamis,  Kaskaskias,  and  even 
Sioux  and  Cherokees. 

Some  of  his  Indian  converts  were  most  exemplary,  and  he  men- 
tions especially  a  chief  named  Louis,  commonly  called  "  Lo  vieux 
priaiit" — the  old  Christian — who  died  on  White  liiver  dunng  a 
winter  encampment,  shortly  after  having  approached  the  sacra- 
nionts  at  Vincennes.* 

In  subsequent  years  the  few  remaining  Indians  came  incidentally 
under  the  care  of  other  clergymen :  Bishop  Kosati  baptized  the 
brother  of  the  great  chief;  Bishop  Blanc,  w  hen  at  Vincennes,  fre- 
(juently  ministered  among  them.  Some  of  them  had  entirely 
adopted  the  European  dress  and  customs,  and  acquired  ease  and 
competence,  such  as  John  B.  Hichardville  or  I'iskewah,  sou  of  the 
chieftainess,  who  led  the  Miamis  at  llarmar's  defeat.f  Many  of  the 
others,  however,  had  relapsed   into  paganism — retaining,  never- 

*  Spalding'8  Fhiget,  117. 

t  Ann.  Prop.  ii.  40,  i.  344 ;  Schoolcraft.    He  died  August  13,  1841,  buried 
at  St.  MaryV,  near  Fort  Wayne. 

1*9 


434 


AMKKH'AN    t'ATllUf.U'    MISSIONS. 


theless,  an   jittachiuciit  to  tliu  Catholic  religion,  and  a  desire  ot 
ba)>t 


IMII. 


The  Miami  and  lliincds  rlans  wvw,  however,  soon  after  carrieij 
west  of  the  Mississipjd,  and  thus  ffll  within  the  district  of  tin- 
.h'snit  Fathers,  whose  hihoi-s  we  shall  hcreafier  treat  in  detail. 

Such  is  tile  storv  *>\'  \\\<'  Illinois  mission,  one  of  the  njost  suc- 
•  M'ssful  in  onr  annals;  and  tlionufh  the  tribes  were  generally  doeiji-, 
its  earlv  missionaries  nund»er  maiiv  who  njavsome  day  be  onroll<'.| 
in  our  national  niartyroloiry.  Manjuette,  its  tbunder,  and  Jiiimeteai:, 
died  in  the  wilderness ;  Hibourde,  Membr6,f  (iravier.  Kale,  ainl 
Senat,  by  the  hand  of  violence,  and  1  >oiitreleau  narrowly  escaped 
a  similar  fate. 

Of  the  result  of  the  mission  we  are  not  to  judtjfe  by  the  small 
bands  that  remain,  sole  survivors  of  the  wars  and  diseases  whi»  li 
have  almost  extinc^uisluMl  the  clans.  More  than  in  any  other  part 
the  settlers  intermarried  with  the  Indians,  and  there  are  few  of  the 
French  families  in  Illinois  and  Missouri  that  cannot  boast  their 
descent  from  the  noble  tribe  which  has  given  its  name  to  the 
former  State. 


♦  Ann.  Prop.  x.  188. 

t  As  wc  huvo  frequently  mentioned  tlie  gentle  Meinbre,  wo  may  here  pivc 
Bomo  details  as  to  his  life  and  deatli.  Zcnobius  Membr6  was  born  al  15a- 
paiime,  in  Artois,  in  1G45  (Paris  Doc,  Boston,  iii.  88),  and  was  a  cou:<in 
of  Father  Lo  Clercq,  the  author.  (Hennepin.)  He  was  the  first  novice  in  the 
new  province  of  St.  Anthony,  and  came  to  ( 'anada  in  107").  Three  years  at'ti  r 
ho  accompanied  La  Sallo  west,  and  in  1682  returned  to  Franco,  where  lie 
became  Warden  at  Bapaumc.  When  LaSullo  aailed  to  Louisiana  he  actoiii- 
panied  him,  and  on  his  being  wrecked  was  left  in  Texas,  at  a  fort  mar 
Galveston  Hay,  with  Father  Maximus  Lo  Clercq  and  tiie  Sulpilian  Chefdevlllc. 
Hero  Membre  projected  a  nussion  among  the  friendly  Cenis,  or  Assinais; 
but  the  fort  was  attacked,  and  all  its  inmates  killed  by  tiie  Quoaquis,  in  1*3*7 
or  1689.  See  Lo  Clerctj,  Joutcl,  Ensayo  Cronologico,  cited  in  t!ie  Discovery 
and  Exploration  of  the  Mississippi.  Father  Membr<5  was  universally  es- 
teemed for  his  mildness  and  virtues  ;  and  his  Journal,  pubhshodin  the  work 
of  Le  Clercq,  gives  a  most  favorable  idea  of  his  worth. 


S'S. 


,  niul  a  ilesiro  of 


soon  after  cnrrioil 
[\u'.  ilistrict  of  tlu- 
cnt  ill  «U'tail. 
5  of  the  most  siic- 
(!  jj^c'iicnilly  (.loci If, 
10  day  be  cnroiltil 
er,  ami  Jiiiim?tein!, 
ravier,  Kale,  a  in  I 
narrowly  escajM-d 

(luft;  by  the  small 
id  diseases  whi(  h 
in  any  other  part 
lero  are  few  of  flic 
cannot  boast  their 
its  name  to  the 


,  \vc  may  here  eive 
>r6  was  born  nl  Hu- 

nnd  was  a  cousin 
c  first  novice  in  tlic 
Three  years  after 

Franco,  whero  lie 
oiiisiana  ho  acctnii- 
xas,  al  a  fort  near 

pitianChcf(levi!lo. 
Cenis,  or  Assimiis; 

Quoaqiii.s,  in  lt3S7 
il  in  t!ie  Discovery 
'as  universally  es- 
>hsho  J  in  the  work 


Oil  A  VTK  U    X  X  I  V. 

Tin:     I.OLISIANA    MISSIONS. 

FftlliiT  Marquottu  vl!*lts  tribon  on  tlio  Lower  MUNlsjjippl  —  IIi'nncpin,  llio  Sioux— Mom- 
Iti',  the  Arkiui.Hjii— .Ifsiiits  succeed  liiiii  -'I'lic  Sfiniimry  at  (iiU'lu-c  uiuj  lit  |iroJc(ft  — 
Monllmty  (Ii'sc«ti(1k  H.H  Virar-lJcntTiil-  His  pliiii;*  — MiNHinn*  ol'  tlio  CiiiiikIIuii  olorjiy — 
The  Tuoti/iw  aiitl  Toiiloiis— St,  C'omo  at  N'atciio/,-Tho  Jesuits— Do  Liiimuo  ut  llm 
Oiuims — Mr.  Fom-aiiit  nmimir  tin-  Vii/nos— jjis  death— ('lost'  of  the  .Iisiiit  mission  — 
Piivlon  nnd  tlie  Toaieiw— Death  of  St,  Come— Mavioii  finally  retires— Father  Clmr- 
levoix — New  Jesuit  mission— l)u  I'olssou  in  ,\rkaiis,is  — Souel  on  the  Vu/oo — Their 
death  In  tho  Niitc  hoz  war-- Ya/oos  attaek  F.  I Jnutrtdeaii— Father  ih'(«uienne  and  tho 
Alilmmons— Father  le  i'etit  and  Haudoia  amoui;  the  Choeluws— suppreasioa  of  the 
JuAUit.s,  and  close  of  thu  mls.sloa, 

TiiK  (lis(;ovei'y  (jf  the  existtjiiee  of  a  LCicat  river  in  the  West  had 
inflamed  tlu;  zeal  of  the  Jesuit  missiduaries  on  the  u|)|x*r  lakes. 
"Ill  this  western  world  they  had  evt-r  been  the  piuiK.'ers  of  civili- 
zation and  the  faith;  s(^aive  a  river  was  entered,  scarce  a  ca|)e 
was  turned,  but  a  .lesuit  h^l  the  way."  \  new  world  now 
opened  to  their  ambition  of  love  :  they  resolved  to  explore  it. 
Accident  after  acci(.lent  arrested  their  proinrress.  Marcpiette  resolved 
to  open  the  way :  lie  made  his  preparations  at  Lapointe,  in  IGGl),  to 
visit  "  this  river  and  the  nations  that  dwell  u}»on  it,  in  order  to  open 
the  passage  to  so  many  of  our  Fathers  who  have  so  long  awaited 
this  happiness."  But  again  accident  prevented  their  further  pro- 
gress. The  French  government  at  last  resolved  to  undertake  the 
exploration,  and  sent  Louis  Jolliet,  a  native  of  Quebec,  to  explore 
the  river.  Marquette,  to  his  great  joy,  was  deputed  by  his  Su- 
l)eriois  to  accompany  him,  and  thus  was  at  last  enabled  to  realize 
liis  ardent  desire  of  extending  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  and  making 
his  name  known  and  adored  bv  all  the  nations  of  that  vast  country. 
Tims  thev  set  out — the  one  the  envoy  of  the  French  frovernmcnt,  to 
exjiloie,  the  other  the  envoy  of  the  Almighty,  to  illuminate  the 
valley  with  the  light  of  the  gospel. 

They  embarked  at  Mackinaw  on  the  I7th  of  May,  16Y3;  and, 


436 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


;      i 


nsconding  Fox  IJiver,  entered  tlie  Wisconsin  and  floated  down  to 
the  lordly  Mississippi,  which  the  pious  Manpiette,  "  with  a  joy," 
says  he,  "which  1  cannot  express,"  named  the  lliver  of  the  Con- 
ception. On  the  25th  of  June  he  reached  the  l*eorias  and  Moiii- 
gwcnas,  Illinois  clans. 

Passing  the  Missouri  and  Ohio,  he  found  a  party  of  Indians  on 
the  shore  resembling  both  Ilurons  and  Iroquois,  whom  he  address 
ed  in  the  Huron  language,  and  being  understood,  was  invited  to 
{heir  cabins.  AN'ho  tiiev  were,  the  missionary  gives  us  no  sur- 
mise ;  they  were  evidently  unacquainted  with  the  French,  bin 
traded  with  some  Europeans  at  the  east,  and,  as  it  would  seem. 
with  Catholics.  To  these  Marquette  announced  the  gospel,  jiinl 
leaving  medals  to  show  the  visit  of  a  131ack-g(jwn,  proceeded.* 

About  33°  north  he  came  to  the  Metchigameas,  who  prepared 
to  attack  them.  In  vain  Marquette  showed  the  calumet ;  death 
seemed  inevitable,  and  the  little  party,  commending  themselves  t<> 
the  Blessed  Virgin  Immaculate,  j>repared  to  die  by  the  shower  of 
arrows  which  threatened  them.  But  the  aged  chiefs  stopped  the 
turmoil,  and  they  were  saved.  Now  hospitably  received,  Mar- 
quette, by  an  interpreter,  endeavored  to  give;  them  some  knowl- 
edge of  God  and  the  way  of  salvation.  Imperfect,  indeed,  it  w;i>, 
but  as  he  remarks,  "  it  is  a  seed  cast  in  the  earth  which  will  bear 
its  fiuit  in  season,"  and  in  season  the  Metchigameas  joined  the  Il- 
linois mission  which  Marquette  founded,  and  were  absorbed  in 
that  tribe.f 

He  next  reached  the  Arkansas,  on  the  eastern  shore,  and  by 
that  good  people  was  received  with  all  favor.  Finding  one  well 
acquainted  with  the  Illinois  tongue,  he  delivered  the  presents  of 
the  faith,  explaining  each  in  Indian  style.  They  showed  groat 
admiration  for  his  doctnnes  and  the  truths  which  he  annoiincoil, 
and  entreated  him  to  tsike  up  his  stay  among  them.J 


*  Mhrqucttc,  in  Siieii's  Discovery,  <tc.  t". 


+  Id.  45. 


:  Id.  -i: 


FRE^X'H   MISSIONS. 


437 


Here  the  missionary  and  liis  companion  ended  their  exploration, 
and  returned  by  wayoftlio  Illinois  liivcr,  visitini;  the  IVorias  and 
Kaskjuskias  as  we  Imve  already  seen.* 

The  Cross  was  thus  i)lanted  airain  in  tJje  vallev  of  tiie  Missis- 
sij>pi.  Marquette  from  the  north  reared  it  at  the  mouth  <>['  the 
Arkansas,  whose  head-waters  had  been  reaehed  by  Father  I'adilla, 
and  whose  waters  meet  the  Mississippi  not  far  from  the  spot  where 
a  Spanish  piiest  had  knelt  to  hear  the  dyin*^  eonfession  of  I)e  Soto. 

Tlie  Jesuits  were  unable  then  to  evani^elize  this  mighty  field. 
In  1680  the  adventurous  La  Salle  was  in  Illinois,  but  aecident 
having  compelled  him  to  return  to  Canada,  he  sent  the  Kecoliect 
Father  Ilennepiu  to  explore  the  Illinois  liiver  to  its  mouth.  The 
missionary  set  out  with  two  companions  in  March,  reached  the 
Mississippi,  and  for  a  .iionth  sailed  on  till  he  was  taken  by  a  Sioux 
party,  and  earned  to  a  village  near  St.  Anthony's  Falls.  Here  he 
was  detained  till  Julv,  when  la;  was  delivered  bv  I)ulutli,  who 
had  the  previous  year  explori.'d  the  Sioux  country .f  Duiing  hit* 
captivity  Hennepin  seems  to  have  mad«»  no  attempt  to  announce 
the  gospel,  and  merely,  after  some  hesitation,  baptized  a  dying 
infant.  J 

La  Salle  returned  to  Illinois  in  1082,  and  descended  the  Missis- 
>ippi  accompanied  by  the  Kecoliect  Father  Zenobius  Mt'mbre,  i\ 
man  of  great  zeal  and  mildness.  On  reaching  the  Arkansas  in 
March,  Membro,  delighted  with  the  manners  of  the  p^'ople,  phuited 
a  cross,  and  attempted,  chiefly  by  signs,  to  give  iLem  some  idea  of 
Christianity  and  the  true  God.§ 

They  now  entered  on  a  new  region,  passing  beyond  the  limit 
reached  by  Marquette.  The  next  tribes,  the  Taenzas,  were  reach- 
ed on  the  22d  of  the  same  montli.  Their  eight  populous  villages 
lud  half-civilized  natives  seemed  a  most  promising  field  fur  the 


*  See  lllinoi-i  Mission.  +  I'aris  Doo.  vi.  2''>9. 

t  Hennepin,  in  Sliea's  Di.scovcry,  where  his  oharacter  is  discubscd. 

§  Membn'',  in  Slion's  Disc.  17^. 


438 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


I.   ' 


t    I 


gospel ;  and  the  pious  Recollect  here  too  endeavored  to  give  the 
poor  beniLjhted  natives  some  notion  uf  a  puivr  faith,  and  raiht; 
their  minds  tioni  the  sun  and  lire  to  "  llini  that  made  them,  more 
beautiful  and  miufhticr  than  thcv.''* 

^'isitini;;  the  Natchez  and  Tangihaos  they  now  proceeded  to  the 
sea,  and  then  returned.  Thus,  by  Jesuit  and  by  llecollect,  Chri>t 
was  at  last  announced  along  the  niighty  river,  from  the  Falls  <•!' 
St.  Anthony  of  Padua  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  naught  remained 
but  to  find  apost<»lic  men  to  com}>lete,  by  years  of  patient  toil,  the 
outline  made  by  the  mis.sionary  explorers. 

The  uidiappy  La  Salle,  whose  life  was  ever  checkered  by  mis- 
fortune, endeavored  in  1G85  to  reach  the  Mississippi  by  sea,  ho})iiig 
to  colonize  the  West,  but  he  failed,  and  after  landing  in  Texas  per- 
ished in  an  attempt  to  reach  the  Mississij)pi.  <  )f  his  Texan  colony 
wo  have  spoken  elsewhere.f  it  wus  cut  to  ))ieces  by  the  ln<lians; 
but  of  the  party  with  him  at  his  death  several,  among  otln-rs  tjie 
Recollect  Anastasius  J)ouay  and  the  Sulpitian  Cavelier.  reaehe<l 
Illinois,  but  perfonned  no  missionary  duty  among  tlui  Mississijipi 
tribes.  Douav  returneil  in  the  tleet  with  which  the  gallant  C'an.i- 
dian,  Iberville,  at  last  reached  the  delta  of  the  Mississippi  in  lOO'J, 
and  ascended  the  river  for  some  distance,  but  did  not  remain.^ 

A  Canadian  had  lirst  reached  the  mouth,  an<l  was  to  be  tiie 
father  of  the  new  colony.  Canadians  were  to  be  the  pioneers  ef 
the  faith.  The  Bishop  of  Quebec  and  his  clergy  resolved  to  en- 
ter the  great  Held  opened  by  Marquette.  Tonty,  the  faithtul  lieu- 
tenant of  La  Salle,  had  obtained  of  him  a  grant  of  a  considerable 
tract  on  lie  Arkjinsas  River.  Here  he  built  a  house  and  fort  in 
1C83,  and  being  a  man  of  genuine  and  sincere  piety,  had  sought 
to  obtain  missionaries  for  the  new  ]>ost.  Unbiassed  by  tju^  preju- 
dices of  La  Salle,  he  applied  to  the  Jesu'ls,  the  more  readily,  p-i- 
haps,  as  Couture,  whom  he  sent  to  begin  the  i>ost,  had  been  a  donne 


Menilir^',  i<.l.  p.  I'.'S. 


t  Sco  noto,  p.  'I'H, 


]  La  Ilnrpo'H  Journal 


^Hf^>€SSf 


■avorod  to  nrjvo  the 

•r  Ijiitli,  and  mist. 

made  tliciii,  more 

r  |M-ocf*oded  to  tlir 
/  Itt'Collcct,  Cliii>t 
tVojii  the  Falls  of 
naugjit  remained 
A'  patient  toil,  the 

'heckered  by  riii.>- 
>pi  by  sea,  hoj)ini,'- 
iiig  in  Texas  jhi-- 
his  Texan  colony 
»  by  the  Indians; 
inunir  others  the 
L'avelier,  ivachcl 
C  the  .Missi.s.sij,|,i 
lie  o-allant  Caiia- 
••^issij)!.!  in  100t», 
not  reniain.J 
was  to  be  lli.' 
tli<!  j)ioneeis  t-f 
resolved  to  cii- 
le  laitht'ul  li.ii- 
a  eonsideraLdc 
use  and  fort  in 
ty,  Iiad  c^ow^la 
I  by  the  prcjii- 
e  I'endily,  jki- 
1  been  a  doniit' 


FliENClI    MISSIONS. 


439 


of  those  missionaries,  and  had  share<l  with  Jorjues  the  trials  and  tor- 
ments of  Jifdian  eajitivity.  liy  a  died  dated  NoveMil>er  20,  1G80, 
lie  i(ave  to  Father  Uaitlon,  then  SujM'rior  of  tin-  Canada  missiun,  a 
stri|)  on  the  Arkansas  Kiver,  a  little  east  of  his  fort,  of  about  rij^ht 
acres,  for  a  eha}>el  anil  niissiondiousr,  besides  an  innnense  tract  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river  near  the  Indian  village,  for  the  sup- 
port of  a  missionary.  This  mission  was  to  begin  in  November, 
1090,  and  the  missionary  was,  among  oiIhm-  things,  to  build  two 
(•liaj)els,  raise  a  cross  fifteen  feet  high,  minister  to  whites  and  In- 
dians, and  sav  a  mass  for  Tontv  on  his  feast,  St.  Henry's  day.* 

AN'hat  missionary  was  then  sent  does  not  appear,  n<tr  is  there 
any  ac<ount  of  the  duration  of  his  mission.  It  could  not,  how- 
ever, have  been  lasting,  as  no  trace  remains  of  its  existence. 

If  the  Jesuits  of  (Quebec  atl«'mpted  any  missions  on  the  Lower 
Mississippi  they  soon  abandoned  them.  In  the  «'apital  of  Cinadu 
an  institution  still  exists,  t'oundcd  by  the  illustrit)us  Laval,  the  first 
liishop  of  Qui'bec.  This  is  the  Seminary,  itself  a  filiation  of  the 
Seniinarv  of  the  Fori'i<ni  Missions  at  I'Mris.  from  which  Laval  had 
oonie.  Like  the  house  to  \Nliielj  it  owrd  ii.»  tuigin  and  spirit, 
the  Seminary  of  (Quebec  had  long  aspireil  to  enter  on  the  work  of 
evangelizing  the  heathen,  but  avoided  ail  rivalry  with  bodies  then 
engaged  in  that  imdertaking.  Now,  however,  a  vast  field  lay 
open  to  them,  on  which  the  .Fesuits  and  liecolleets  of  Canada  de- 
clined to  enter. 

St.  Valier,  Bishop  of  Quebec,  claiming  the  valley  of  the  Missis- 
si|>pi  as  part  of  his  diocese,  was  also  desirous  of  establishing  his 
clergy  at  the  mouth  of  the  great  river.  As  j»ioneer  of  t)ie  new 
iTiissions,  the  Seminary  chose  Francis  Jolliet  tie  MontiLfiiv,  a  man 
of  vast  designs  and  boundless  zeal.  Invested  by  the  Bishoj)  with 
the  i.owers  of  Viear-fJeneral,  Montijjnv  set  out  witli  Anthony  L\'i 
vion,  a  jtriest  of  the  same  seminary,  in  the  Ottawa  llotilla  of  lODB.f 


Iftrpo*M  Jom-iiul. 


*  Deed  in  Bnrcnu  des  Terref. 


t  De  In  Polhori'\  iv.  10','. 


440 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


After  wintering  at  Mackinaw  they  visited  the  IHinois,  the  last 
Jesuit  field,  and  entered  the  Mississipju.  Descending  to  the 
Taenz.'w,  Montigny  was  charmed  with  the  dispositions  of  the 
tribe.*  The  1'aenza.s  Avere  half  civilized,  and  occupied  eight 
towns  or  villages  composed  of  houses  built  of  earth  and  straw, 
with  many  articles  of  furniture  not  found  among  the  northern 
tribes.  The  p'ople  were  subject  to  an  absolute  chief,  who  was 
treated  with  great  honor.  In  dress,  too,  they  were  somewhat 
ad\aru'ed,  being  clad  in  a  clolh  woven  of  the  fibres  of  a  tree. 
Selecting  this  ivs  his  own  station,  the  Vicar-( General  proceeded  to 
tlie  Tonicas  on  the  Vjizoo  River,  and  raising  a  mission-house,  es- 
t-ablished  Davion  as  a  laborer  there. 

At  the  Ked  lliver  they  heard  of  a  French  settlement  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and  resolved  to  visit  it.  After  ten  days' 
sail  in  their  bark  canoes,  suti'ering  greatly  for  want  of  water,  they 
reached  liiloxi  on  the  fii'st  of  July.  As  it  was  too  poor  to  offer 
them  hospitality  without  danger,  they  remained  but  ten  days,  and 
again  set  out  for  their  j)osts  with  presents  for  the  Tircit  Sun  of  the 
Natchez,  wine  for  mass,  flour,  and  some  necessaiy  tools.  It  is 
probj'ble  that  Mr.  de  Montigny  went  at  once  to  the  villages  of  the 
Natchez,  among  whom  he  proposed  founding  a  new  mission,  for 
which  another  priest  had  arrived :  this  was  the  Canadian,  John 
Francis  Buisson,  commonly  called  de  St.  Come,  who  was  at  his 
post  before  Iberville's  coming  iu  1700.f 

This  nation  was  by  far  the  most  civilized  to  be  found  in  the  val- 
ley of  the  Mississipj)i,  as  their  countiy  was  the  finest.  Adoreis 
of  the  sun,  they  had  a  temple  in  its  honor,  built,  like  their  houses, 
of  earth  and  straw,  where  a  fire  was  kept  constantly  burning  in 
honor  of  their  gr)d.     The  great  chief  bore  the  name  of  Sun,  and 


•  La  Hurpo,  in  Loiiisliinft  Hist.  Coll.  iii.  16. 

t  SiUivollc,  .Journal  in  Loui.siuna  Hist.  Coll.  iii.  227  ;  Lft  Ilarpc,  in  Loiii.-i- 
.in:i  Hist.  Coll.  iii.  p.  17,  nays  that  Iborvillo  found  him  nt  Natclioz,  Marb 
11,  1700. 


FRENX'H   MISSIONS. 


441 


he  was  the  hiifli-j^iest  of  the  naiion,  daily  oftering  an  obhition  of 
incense  IVom  !ns  caiunict  tu  his  pietoiuied  siiv.  Su(;ces8ion  wjus 
in  the  female  lino,  and  the  inuther  of  the  Sun,  or  teiuale  chief,  was 
treated  with  the  gieatest  honor,  although  she  took  no  part  in  the 
government. 

Among  these,  then,  St.  Come  took  up  his  residence.  He  soon 
gained  the  favor  of  the  female  chief,  who  was  indeed  so  attached 
to  the  lilack-u'own  that  she  conferred  liis  name  on  one  of  her  sous. 
Hut  his  labors  were  not  blessed  with  fruit :  his  instructions  were 
seed  wliich  fell  on  the  rock.  No  (.'onverts  to  the  faith  enabled 
him  to  begin  a  church  of  Natchez  Christians  ;*  yet  he  struggled 
on  for  some  years  undeterred  by  his  ill-success. 

About  the  same  time  Davion  visited  the  villages  of  the  Chicka- 
saws,  but  no  mission  could  be  attempted  in  a  tribe  already  devoted 
to  the  English.f 

Besides  these  missionaries,  of  whose  presence  on  the  Lower  Mis- 
sissippi there  can  be  no  doubt,  a  work  on  the  Canadian  clergy 
names  two  others  as  companions  of  the  Vicar-General.  These 
were  Michael  Antliony  Gaulin  and  GeotFiy  ThieriT  Erborio.  The 
former  attempted  a  mission  among  the  Assinays  or  Cenis,  but 
after  a  struggle  of  two  years,  in  the  midst  of  constant  ill-treatni  'nt 
and  danger,  he  abandoned  his  mission  and  embarked  for  (^luubec 
by  sea.  The  latter  repaired  to  the  Choctaws,  and  labored  am'>ng 
them  and  the  Natchez  till  1709,  wli  •>,  he  returned  to  Illinois. 

Of  these  missionaries,  liowever,  we  find  no  trace  in  the  early 
•locuments  relating  to  Louisiana,  and  the  account  is  probably 
erroneous. 

These  missionaries,  all  of  whom  belonged  to  the  secular  clergy 
of  Canada,  were  not  alone — the  Jesuits  of  France  sent  membei-s  to 
a  field  which  they  had  oeen  the  first  to  explore.  "With  Iberville 
':ame  a  Father  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  Father  Paul  du  Ru,  followed 


*  Charlevoix,  vi.  194. 


+  Sp-uvollc,  Louisiana  Kist.  ColK  ut.  231. 
19* 


442 


AMKIilCAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


soon  after  by  Falliors  Joseph  do  Limoges  and  I)ono:y.  l>u  Ru 
was  intended  for  tlie  Xatdiez,  Init  as  St.  ( ■onie  was  actually  there, 
remained  at  tlie  tort.  J)e  J^imoircs,  whom  we  Hnd  at  a  siiiisecjuent 
period  laboring  in  Illinois,  now  proceeded  to  the  Oumas  on  Red 
Itiver,  and  began  a  mission  among  them,  which  apparently  lasted 
several  yeai-s.* 

Thus  almost  coeval  with  the  settlement  of  Louisiana,  when  tin- 
civil  powei  had  but  a  single  jKitty  tort,  the  Church  had  begun 
missions  among  the  Taenzas,  Toniras,  Natchez,  Arkansas,  arul 
Oumas,  and  probably  imiong  the  Choctaws  and  Cenis,  and  was 
laboring  to  elevate  them  ^o  civilization  and  truth  by  the  light  and 
practice  of  the  gospel. 

Zeal  did  not,  howe\'-.  command  succ^ess.  Like  every  other 
mission,  that  kS  l.inii^innn  was  baptized  in  blood,  and  illustrated  by 
the  deaths  of  it^  [^ioUcei-s.  In  1702  Nicholas  Foucault,f  who  had 
arrived  tlie  previous  year.  :;nd  was  labonng  among  the  Yaz  os  and 
Tonicivs,  set  out  witlj  Jnce  Frenchmen  for  the  fort,  att' nded  by 
two  young  Koro.'ts  as  guides.  Letl  by  hopes  of  jdunder,  or  iusti 
gated  by  hatred,  these  treacherous  savages  aft'ected  the  jmu'der  of 
the  wliole  party  near  the  Tonica  villages;  thus  gixing  the  zealous 
Foucault  the  glory  of  first  shedding  his  blood  in  I  ho  dangerous 
mission. 

On  learning  his  death,  Davion,  the  missionary  among  the  Toni- 
cas,  and  Father  de  Limoges,  {\\,m  ihe  O  tmas,  deemed  it  no  lonu<M" 
prudent  to  remain  in  so  e\posed  a  sitvuation,  and  descended  to  the 
French  fort,  which  they  reached  di  the  1st  of  October.^  Tlie 
governor  determined  to  exact  reparation  for  the  murder,  and  this 


*  IIo  was  there  in  1702. 

t  Nicholas  Fouoault  was,  according  to  Noiscux,  a  rarisian,  ordaincil  at 
Quebec  in  10S9.  For  ten  years  pastor  at  Batiscan,  ho  was  impcllcil  by  zeal 
tor  the  missions  to  follow  Montigny,  and  set  out  for  the  Misgissippi  in  17ol. 
Noiseux  erroneously  puts  his  doath  in  171 S. 

X  La  Ilarpe,  in  Louisiana  Hist.  Coll.  iii.  28,  32.  The  chief  put  the  nnirdcrcrs 
to  deatb.     Mom.  dc  Richebovirg,  id.  iii.  246. 


FUENCH    MISSIONS. 


443 


made  a  return  still  inoro  tlaiii^orous.  Meaiiwliil*'  Fallior  <lii  Kii 
])n>j('('to«l  a  new  mission  at  the  l>ayan<jula  \iliaii;i',  l»iit  as  disputes 
had  aiist'ii  hctween  him  and  Sauvulle  the  commander,  the  latter 
made  comi>laints  in  France  wiiich  led  to  the  recall  of  du  liu  and 
the  abandonment  of  the  Je>uit  mission  iti  Louisiana.  l>oni;y  «lied 
at  Mobile  in  17(>4,  of  a  pestilence  in  which  he  had  displayed  the 
7,eal  antl  charity  of  his  order.  1  )e  Limoijes  a[»parently  ascended  to 
Illinois  ami  du  Ku  returned  to  France.* 

Thus  closed  the  Jesuit  mission.  I  )e  ^h)ntiu•nvt  andfiaulin  had 
luni;  since  departed,  and  not  a  missionary  remained  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Illinois,  except  St.  Come,  to  realize  the  sciu'iaes 
which  the  zealous  Montii^ny  had  formed. 

At  last,  however,  in  December,  1704,  the  Tonicas  sent  their 
deputies  to  Mobile  to  bctj  Davion  to  return  and  instruct  them. 
Althoujifh  they  had  hitherto  shown  little  rci^ard  to  his  teachiiiff, 
ho  tinally  yielded  to  their  solicitations  and  returned,  but  r»'S4jlved 
to  adopt  a  ditierent  course  from  that  wliieh  he  had  liithertu  pur- 
sued, lie  spoke  freely  and  boldly,  ilenounciuL^  their  vices  and 
idolatry,  and  urj^ing  them  to  embrace  Christianity.     FindinLT  them 


)ut  the  nmrdeicrs 


*  Crctineau-.Toly,  La  Ilarpe,  Suuvolle,  ut  ante  ill.  237. 

t  Francis  Jolliot  do  Montigny,  who  took  so  conspicuonH  u  pari  In  organ- 
izing these  early  jnissions  on  tlie  Lower  Mississippi,  wa:^  l)<)rn  at  I'aris,  but 
ordained  ut  QtiebfO  on  the  Sth  of  March,  lO'j;!.  After  Uiiiii,'  run-  at  St. 
Anarc  Clnrdien,  and  Director  of  the  Ursulinos,  ho  was  sent  to  iho  Mississippi 
i»i  lO'.ts,  witli  the  titU;  of  Vicar  (icneral.  His  riu'ht  as  hucii  was  apparently 
not  recojiuiziul  by  tiie  Jesuits  \vit!i  H)erville,  and  he  scoins  not  t<>  have  met 
any  support  in  liis  missionary  projeets  from  tliat  Canadian  I'lHcer.  Tho 
period  of  his  stay  is  not  known.  Ilo  is  said  to  have  been  Su|H>rior  of  the 
Seminary  of  Quebco  from  171'3  to  1719,  and  t(»  have  died  in  Paris  in  17'J.'>,  at 
tlie  aire  of  CI. 

Micliacl  Anthony  (Jaalin  was  born  at  Sto.  Famillc,  in  Isle  Orleans,  and  wua 
elevated  to  tho  priesthood  in  Pcceuilier,  lCt»7.  lie  i«pent  tho  ensuinu  year 
lit  I.orctte,  in  chartrc  of  the  Iluroiis,  but  left  tlioin  to  accompany  Montigny. 
On  hi*»  way  from  Mol)iie  to  <,2ucbec,  in  17'>2,  ho  was  wroclwcd  on  the  coast  of 
Maine,  and,  an  wo  have  ^ccn,  tor  a  lime  aided  the  Abnaki  mission.  Ilo  died 
itt  the  Hotel  Dieu,  Quc'occ.  Mjirch  6,  1740,  ajjod  67. 


444 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


L     I 
|l 

li 


I 


(leaf  to  his  exhortations,  he  destroyed  their  temple  and  quenched 
their  sacred  fire.  Incensed  at  this,  thev  drove  him  fr«)m  their 
viUa^e,  ]>ut  were  so  in(Htrerent  in  reahty  tiiat  tliey  took  no  steps 
to  rebuild  their  sacred  edifice,  and  soon  after  invited  Davion  to 

St.  Come,  meanwhile,  was  laboring  among  the  friendly  Natcln?z ; 
but  ho  too  was  destined  to  be  cut  off  by  ])lundering  Indians.  I)e- 
sirending  the  Mississippi  in  1707,  with  thre*^  Frenchmen  and  a 
little  slave,  he  was  attacked  and  murdered  while  asleep  by  the  Siti- 
machas,  who  to  the  number  of  eighty  surprised  the  little  party, 
liergier,  the  Cahokia  missionary,  was  on  the  river  at  the  time,  and 
announced  the  sad  tidings  at  liiloxi.  On  hearing  it,  the  governor 
♦•ailed  on  his  Indian  allies  to  avenge  St.  Come ;  and  the  Sitima- 
ehas  were  almost  exterminated  by  the  Natchez,  Biloxis,  and  Bay- 
agoulas.* 

Davion  was  now  alone,  but  he  too  soon  after  finally  left  the 
Tonicas,  who,  though  so  attached  to  him  as  to  ofier  him  the  rank 
of  chief,  showed  no  desire  to  adopt  the  dogmas  and  morals  of  the 
gosjx'l.f  A  change,  however,  came  over  them.  lie  once  moic 
became  their  missionaiT,  and  such  we  find  him  till  171G.  By  this 
time  the  chief  and  several  others  had  been  baptized.  The  former 
had  even  adopted  Kurf)pean  costume,  and  acquired  some  knowl- 
edge of  F'rench.  Still,  Davion  was  soon  forced  to  leave  for- 
ever.J 


*  La  Ilarpc,  in  Louisiana  11.  ('.  iii.  35;  Do  Rioliebourfr,  id.  245,  mis- 
dutcs.  .loliii  Fraiu'iH  Bui^son,  of  a  fumily  ori<jinuily  from  St.  Cosme-le-Vcrt, 
•was  baptized  at  Pointe  Levi,  February  Hth,  lrt67,  by  Fatlier  Henry  Nouvel. 
lie  was  ordained  in  ltj9<'. — \<>t<'  of  Ahhr  tWUtiul.  Noiseux  >,'ive8  1711,  as  tho 
year  when  lie  went  West,  and  1717  as  tluit  of  liis  death  ;  but  La  Ilarpo  nioii- 
tioHH  his'  arrival  in  1700,  and  his  deatli  in  1707.  If  not  a  companion  of  M. 
de  Montij?ny,  he  must  have  followed  him  closely. 

t  Memoire  do  M.  de  Kiohebourir,  Louisiana  11.  Coll.  iii.  246  ;  Kip's  Jes. 
Missions,  24li. 

X  Davion  is  said  by  Noiseux  to  have  been  a  native  of  Issigny,  in  Norman- 


i. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


445 


0  and  quenched 
him  tj'oin  their 
)y  took  no  steps 
vited  Duvioii  to 

iendiv  Natchez ; 
Cf  Indians.  l)e- 
L'nclinie!i  and  a 
ileep  by  tlie  Si  ti- 
the httlo  party, 
at  the  time,  and 
it,  the  governor 
and  the  Sitima- 
•iloxis,  and  Bay- 
finally  left  the 
pr  him  the  rank 

1  morals  of  the 
lie  once  more 
1710.    By  this 

d.  The  former 
id  some  knowl- 
to  leave  for- 


Irju',  id.  24.'),  mis- 
It.  Cosmc-lc-Vcrt, 
Ir  Henry  Nouvel. 
I'ivcs  1711,  as  tlio 
It  La  Ilarpo  men- 
:onipauion  of  M. 

246 ;  Kip's  Jes. 

jny,  in  Nomian- 


The  visit  of  Father  Charlevoi.x  in  17'21  revealed  to  France  the 
spiritual  destitution  of  both  French  and  Indians  on  the  Lower 
.Mississippi,  where  not  a  pncst  was  to  be  found,  except  at  Vji/.uo 
and  New  Orleans.*  To  supply  its  various  j)osts  the  conij»any 
naturally  turned  to  the  reliy^ious  orders,  and  finally  entered  into  an 
aijfreeinent  with  the  Capuchins  and  .lesuits,  by  whicli  the  former 
Were  to  supply  piiests  for  the  French  posts,  and  the  latter  for  the 
Indian  missions.  The  (^'apuchins  accordini^ly  entered  New  Orleans 
in  1722,  and  became  the  parish  priests  of  that  city  and  colony, 
their  Superior  being  Vicar-General  of  (.Quebec.  The  Jesuits,  who 
were  allowed  a  house  in  New  Orleans,  though  ]ireclu<led  from 
exercising  any  functions,  except  by  leave  of  the  Superior  of  the 
Capuchins,  entered  in  1725.  The  first  colony  consisted  of  Father 
Vitre,  Superior,  Fathers  le  Petit,  de  Beaubois,  and  de  Vilie ;  the 
two  last-named  being  old  Illinois  missionaries,  who  in  all  probabil- 
ity returned  to  their  former  posts.  TIk;  others  established  them- 
selves outside  the  city,  in  a  house  jnuchased  of  M.  de  liienvillc, 
the  commandant. 

In  1727,  Father  de  P)eaubois,  then  Superior,  received  a  new  party, 
consisting,  it  would  seem,  of  Fathei's  du  Poisson,  Souel,  Dumaj*, 
and  de  CJuyenne,  followed  soon  after  by  Tartaiin  and  Doutreleau, 
botli  for  the  Illinois  mission. 

Severed  from  Canada,  and  attached  to  Louisiana,  this  mission 
was.  in  fact,  the  only  one  in  existence.  New  posts  were,  however, 
projected,  tribes  selected,  and  ?'athei*s  sent  at  once  to  their  various 


(ly,to  have  arrived  at  Quebec,  May  24,  1(590,  and  to  have  been  a  parisli  priest 
till  1700.  Oa  leaving  the  Tunicas  he  remained  at  New  Orleans  till  just 
before  the  arrival  of  the  Capuchins,  and  then  returned  to  France,  wher6  ho 
died  before  1727.     Sec  Charlevoix,  vi. 

*  The  latter  pt>st  hud  always  been  attended  liy  a  chaplain.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
de  Vente  and  four  other  priests  arrived  in  1704 ;  and  when  the  Western 
Compwiy  undertook  to  colonize  the  country,  M.  Francis  le  Mayrc  is  nien- 
tioncU  as  tiie  first  chaplain  on  I>auphin  I>land.  Charlevoix;  I'aris  Doc, 
''anada,  ii.  640  ;  La  Harpc,  in  T.oniHiana  ll\r.t.  Cull.  iii.  .",6. 


446 


>\MKRICA.N  CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


h 


dostinatioiis.  The  Arkansas  mission,  the  oi*lost  of'  all,  |)i(»ject(Mi 
by  tlit^  .k'suit>,  ami  jK-iliaps  <'ultivat«Ml  lur  a  tiino  by  BoiU'liur,  was 
to  l>e  resloitid,  and  llif  li^lit-lM^artod  ilu  I'oissou  was  named  to  it: 
du  (iuyonnc  set  out  to  announce  tlie  I'aitli  to  the  Alibamons,  and  le 
IVtit  fou«id('(l  tile  tir.st  C'lioctaw  mission;  wiiile  Souei  inoeeeded  to 
Va/oo,  to  raise  iiis  syivan  elia|>ei  l>esid«*  tiie  JMvncii  jxtst.  Dumas, 
Taitarin,  i  ►ontivlcan,  wtiit  to  swril  tlic  rinn)l)ers  (»f  tlio  lilinoi.^ 
Fatliers. 

l)u  Poisson,  after  a  V(»yaf(e  fnil  of  diseomfort,  of  winch  he  lias 
left  us  a  most  fjrajdiic  dcscrijdion,  readied  tiie  Arkansas  post  on 
tile  7th  of  July,  17'J7.  Wlien  a  short  distance  from  (he  village,  n 
company  of  Iiulian  youth  announced  liis  comintf,  an<l  the  tribe 
poured  fortii  to  ivceive  him.  Their  lirst  question  was:  "How 
maiiy  moons  will  Paniano-asa,  tiie  IJIack-chief,  stay  among  us .'" 
"Always,"  replied  a  Frenchman.  The  Arkansas  doubted;  but 
when  assured  that  du  I'oisson  came  indeed  to  teach  tiiem  to  know 
the  Great  Spirit,  as  other  lilack-gowns  had  taught  the  Illinois,  ttie 
Indian  exclaimed  :  "  My  heart  laughs  within  me  when  you  tell  me 
this."  At  the  Sauthouis  village  the  missionary  was  received  with 
oi'"'-y  mark  of  joy  by  the  gieat  cliief  in  his  antichon,  or  rural 
pavilion.  Vet  at  first  Father  du  Poisson  needed  all  his  pru- 
dence, as  he  found  that  they  expected  from  him  I'ather  a  profitable 
tn.de  than  instruction.  A  few  <lays  after  his  arrival  a  deputation 
Vit  1  on  him  for  leave  to  come  and  dalice  the  Calumet,  or  at 
!i.;  I  !i  Oiscovery  dance.  The  French  sent  by  Mr.  Law  to  the 
Arkansas  had,  on  the  dance  of  the  Calumet,  made  great  presents, 
and  they  would  exjjcct  the  same  now;  if  the  missionary  establislud 
a  precedent,  it  would  entail  great  ditliculty,  and  he  avoided  it. 
The  Discovery  dance  being  less  expensive,  he  agreed  to  allow 
it.  Their  visits  to  him  were  now  continual,  and  having  learmd 
the  words  "  Talon  jajai,"' "  llow  do  you  C"all  that,"  he  soon  (•••1- 
lected  a  considerable  vocabulary,  though  as  yet  unable  to  apply 
himself  regularly  to  the  investigation  of  the  language.     lie  saw 


FKENCn    MISSIONS. 


447 


of  all,  |)i(»ject(Ml 
bv  noihlior,  was 
was  nained  to  it : 
ilibariions,  and  lo 
>uel  proceodod  to 
ii  post.  Dumas, 
-8  of  the  lliiuoi.> 

of  wliic'h  he  has 

Lrkansas  post  on 

loiu  tho  viUage,  h 

ip,  and  the  tribe 

ioii  was :    "  IIow 

*tay  among  us .'" 

as  doubted ;  but 

d\  tiiem  to  know 

t  the  Illinois,  Ao 

when  you  tell  me 

IS  received  with 

(Ichon,  or  rural 

ed  all    his  pru- 

ther  a  profitable 

al  a  deputation 

e  Calumet,  or  at 

Mr.  Law  to  the 

e  great  presents, 

)narv  establislu-d 

lie  avoided  it. 

igreed  to  allow 

having  learneil 

,"  he  soon  eul- 

unable  to  apply 

;'uage.     lie  saw 


perfectly  tiie  <lifliculty  of  his  task,  and  says  that  it  will  require  much 
tiint'  to  be  able  to  address  tlu;  Indians  undt'rstandini;lv  «»n  rrli^^ioUH 
iii)itt«'rs.*  For  a  time  he  was  devote«l  to  study  and  to  the  care  of 
the  thirty  FrenchuHU  at  the  ]»ost,  whom  sickness  soon  made  ob- 
ject of  his  solicitu<le. 

Here  lie  labored  till  1720,  although  we  do  not  know  with  what 
success. 

Meanwhile  Father  Sou«'l  had  been  left  at  the  Yazoos,  intmdfd, 
apparently,  to  minister  to  the  French,  and  announce  the  go>p('l  to 
the  Vazor)s,  r)fafjoulas,  an<l  Coroas.  This  missionary  was  rudely 
treated  by  the  climate:  on  his  way  up  he  fell  sick  at  Natchez, and 
though  he  had  recov  red  when  Father  Poisson  left  him  at  tUv 
mouth  of  the  Yazoo,  he  subsefjueiitly  relapsed,  and  his  constitution 
was  completely  shattered.  Vet  lie  tfMik  up  his  residence  in  the 
Indian  villaije,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  studv  of  the  lani^uai'e, 
endeavoring  to  gain  the  good-will  of  all. 

The  two  missions  were,  however,  soon  <l»;stined  t(»  fall.  In  1 727, 
the  French  commander  at  Natchez  had,  bv  his  arbitrarv  conduct, 
exasperated  the  chieftain  of  that  tribe.  Silently  and  s<»cretly  the 
Great  Sun  sent  his  runners  to  the  neighb(»ring  tril>es  to  engage  all 
to  rise  on  one  apj)ointe<l  <lay,  and  by  a  simultaneous  attack  sweep 
the  French  from  Louisiana. 

Ignorant  of  this,  Father  du  Poisson,  who  had  conceived  a  plan 
of  removing  the  Arkansas  villages,  set  out  in  November  for  Now 
Orleans  to  consult  IViier,  the  governor,  as  to  its  expediency,  liy 
the  26t]i  lie  reached  Natchez.  It  was  Saturday,  and  as  Father 
Pliilibert,  the  Capuchin  chaplain  of  the  post,  was  absent,  the  people 
V>ogged  liini  to  stay  and  say  mass  for  them  the  next  day.  To  this 
request  du  Poisson  acceded,  remained,  said  mass,  and  prea<;hed 

*  Tl>c  present  remnant  of  the  Arkansas  arc  called  Qiiapaws,  the  ancient 
name  of  the  people,  at  tirst  written  Oo-yapes  or  Oo-g\vapcs.  Their  laii;.nui';e 
is  of  Dahcota  origin,  and  nearly  approaches  tlic  Osago,  of  which  a  specimen 
will  be  given. 


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448 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


doubtless  on  tlie  terroi-s  of  the  Last  Day,  for  such  is  the  theme  of 
the  gospel  of  the  day.  After  mass,  as  he  had  lost  his  companion, 
Brother  Crucy,  by  a  sun-stroke,  he  determined  to  return  to  his 
mission ;  but  wishing  to  administer  the  last  sacraments  to  some 
sick  persons,  he  remained  another  day.  Monday  was  the  fatal 
moment  fixed  upon  by  the  Natchez  in  their  secret  council  for  the 
massacre.  While  du  Poisson  was  preparing  to  say  mass  and  carry 
the  viaticum  to  the  sick,  the  signal  for  slaughter  was  given  by  the 
Great  Sun.  A  gigantic  chief  rushed  on  the  devoted  missionary. 
Du  Codere,  the  commandant  of  the  Yazoos,  who  stood  beside  du 
Poisson,  endeavored  to  save  his  life,  but  was  himself  cut  down ;  and 
the  savage  felling  du  Poisson  to  the  ground,  hacked  off  his  head 
with  a  hatchet.  In  a  short  time  eveiy  Frenchman  at  the  post 
shared  his  fate,  and  the  women  became  captives  in  the  hands  of 
the  Natchez.* 

The  Yazoos  had  joined  the  people  of  the  Sun  in  their  plot,  and, 
although  they  had  just  returned  from  New  Orleans,  whither  they  had 
gone  to  dance  the  calumet  of  peace,  united  with  the  Coroas,  whose 
hands  had  been  the  first  to  spill  the  blood  of  missionaries,  and  pre- 
pared to  massacre  the  French.  They  began  with  Father  Souel. 
On  the  11th  of  December,  as  the  missionary  was  returning  through 
a  ravine  to  his  cabin  from  a  visit  to  the  chief,  he  received  a  volley 
of  musket-balls,  and  fell  dead  on  the  spot.  His  cabin  was  then 
plundered,  and  his  faithful  negro,  who,  ignorant  of  his  master's  fate, 
attempted  to  resist  the  violence  of  the  murderers,  was  cut  to  pieces. 
Remote  for  this  treatment  of  one  who  they  knew  really  loved 
them,  soon  followed.  The  Yazoos  mourned  over  their  own  folly ; 
but  the  blow  was  struck,  and  it  was  too  late  to  recoil.  The  next 
day  they  attacked  a  French  fort  a  league  distant,  and  massacred 
the  inmates,  sparing  only  the  women  to  keep  as  slaves. 


*  Lo  Petit,  in  the  Lettres  Edifiantea ;  Kip,  286 ;  Dumont,  Louis.  H.  C.  v. 
89-72. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


449 


They  then  attempted  to  cut  off  P'atlier  Doutieleau,  but,  jus  we 
have  seen  elsewhere,  providentially  failed.*  A  war  of  vengeance 
now  ensued :  the  French,  aided  by  the  Tonicas,  Arkansas,  Choc- 
taws,  and  other  tribes,  nearly  exterminated  the  Natchez,  and  drove 
the  Yazoos  and  Coroaa  from  their  territory.  In  this  »var  a  woman 
recovered  her  liberty,  who  gave  some  account  of  the  remains  of 
Father  Souel.  "  I  saw  him,"  said  she,  "  lying  on  his  back  in  the 
canes  very  near  his  house  ;  they  had  taken  nothing  from  his  body 
but  the  cassock.  Although  he  had  been  dead  a  fortnight,  his  skin 
was  still  as  white,  and  his  cheeks  as  red  as  if  he  were  merely 
sleeping.  I  was  tempted  to  examine  where  he  had  received  the 
Mai  blow ;  but  respect  checked  my  curiosity.  I  knelt  for  a  mo- 
ment beside  him,  and  brought  away  his  handkerchief,  which  lay 
near  his  body."  This  same  woman,  full  of  veneration  for  the  mis- 
sionary, finally  induced  the  Indians  to  give  him  burial.f 

The  Natchez  massacre,  which  thus  desolated  the  valley  of  the 
Mississippi,  arrested  forever  the  Yazoo  mission,  and  deprived  the 
Arkansas  of  their  beloved  pastor.  Another  was  indeed  sent  to 
console  them  for  the  loss  which  they  had  sustained,  for  they  daily 
mourned  his  death.  Of  the  subsequent  history  of  the  mission  no 
trace  remains.  Vivier  tells  us  that  the  post  was  vacant  in  lYoO, 
and  the  Register  does  not  date  further  back  than  1*764,  when  we 
find  Father  S.  L.  Meurin,J  the  last  of  the  Jesuit  missionaries  in  Illi- 
nois, officiating  here. 

The  tribe  was  known  among  the  French  by  the  name  of  Arkan- 
sas, but  their  distinctive  name  was  Ouguapas,  or  Kappas,  and  one 
of  the  clans  bore  the  same  name ;  the  others  being  the  Torimans, 
Dogingas,  and  the  Sauthouis.  Known  at  present  under  the  name 
of  Quapaws,  they  were  early  in  the  present  centuiy  visited  by  our 
western  missionaries,  and  are  now  in  the  diocese  of  Bishop  Miege. 

The  third  Jesuit  mission  was  that  of  the  Alibamons,  a  tribe  who 


Loujs.  H.  C.  V. 


*  Dumont,  in  Louis.  Hist.  Coll.  v.  80. 
X  Spalding's  Flaget,  152. 


t  Eip^B  Jesuit  Missions. 


450 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


_.  i 


ih 


havo  left  tlieir  name  to  the  State  of  Alabama.  The  mission  was 
foiiiukHl  by  Father  dc  riuyenno,  but  it  was  much  cx[)0.so(l  owing 
to  the  proximity  of  the  English,  and  Indians  in  English  interest,  in 
Carolina.  After  much  opposition  on  the  j)art  of  the  latter,  de 
(Juyenne  succeeded  in  building  cabins  in  t\V(.»  ditierent  villages,  so 
as  to  bo  able  to  learn  the  language  and  instruct  the  people ;  but  his 
cabins  were  soon  demolished,  and  though  he  j)ersevered,  the  pios- 
pects  of  the  mission  were  so  unpromising  in  1730,  that  Father  le 
Petit  writes  that  he  would  probably  be  compelled  to  confine  his  zeal 
to  the  French  fort  of  the  Alibamons,  or  leave  the  country  entirely.* 
The  Choctaw  mission,  the  fourth  of  those  begun  by  the  Jesuits 
in  Louisiana,  was  the  most  exposed  and  difficult  of  all.f  It  was 
founded  by  Father  le  Petit,  but  he  was  replaced  prior  to  1730  by 
Father  Baudouin.  The  Choctaws,  though  allies  of  the  French, 
and  battling  with  them  against  the  Natchez,  were  a  wild  and  law- 
less band,  and  could  not  be  relied  upon.  The  missionary  acquired 
no  ascendency  over  them  ;  he  could  not  even  obtain  from  their 
hands  the  church  plate  and  vestments  recovered  from  the  Natchez 
and  Yazoos.     Desperate,  however,  as  his  mission  was,  Baudouin 

persevered  for  eighteen  years  on  the  unproductive  field.J     Of  his 

— — _ . , __ 

*  Lc  Petit,  Lettres  Edif.  xx.  100;  Kip's  Jesuit  Missions,  310. 

t  According  to  Mr.  Noiscux,  a  Choctaw  mission  was  begun  in  1713  by 
John  Daniel  Testu,  a  native  of  Capo  St.  Ignatina,  in  Canada,  who  was  or- 
dained in  1G93,  and  went  to  join  Mr.  do  Mont'gny  in  1712.  In  Augn.st, 
1718,  while  on  his  way  to  Mobile,  he  and  his  party,  while  cabining  at  night 
on  shore,  were  attacked  by  Indians,  and  at  the  first  volley  Testu  received  a 
fatal  wound,  llis  age  is  given  as  fifty.  Of  this  Charlevoix,  ■who  was  on  tiio 
river  in  1721,  and  mentions  Foucault  and  St.  C6me,  makes  no  mention,  and 
the  Hon.  Mr.  Vigor  docs  not  include  him  in  the  list  of  martyred  Canadian 
jiricsts.  According  to  the  same  unreliable  writer,  Mr.  Erborio  also  preached 
to  the  Choctaws. 

X  Our  Father  in  Choctaw  reads  as  follows : 

9.  Piki  rba  ish  binili  ma !  Chi  hohchifo  hj;t  holitopashke.  10.  Ish  apcli- 
cViika  yi't  flashkc.  Nana  ish  ai  ahni  ka  yakni  pakna  ya  a  yohmi  kvt,  vhix 
yakni  a  yohmi  male  o  ehiyuk  mashke.  11.  Ilimak  nitak  ihlpak  pirn  ai  dli- 
posa  kaki  ish  pi  ipetashke.  12.  Mikmut  nana  11  ahckn  puta  ish  pi  kashoti 
ki\  jiishno  rt  nana  pirn  aheka  piit:i  11  i  kashofi  chatuk  a  ish  chiyuhmichasliko. 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


451 


he  mission  was 
exposed  owing 
;lish  interest,  in 

the  hitter,  <le 
•ent  villages,  so 
people ;  but  his 
Viii'Kid,  the  pios- 

that  Father  le 
confine  his  zeal 
untry  entirely.* 
I  bv  the  Jesuits 
Df  all.f  It  was 
•ior  to  1730  by 
of  the  French, 
\  wild  and  law- 
ionary  acquired 
tain  from  their 
)m  the  Natdiez 

was,  Baudouin 

field.t     Of  his 


310. 

)c<run  ill  1713  by 

lada,  who  was  or- 

1712.     In  Au.ffi'.f't, 

Icabining  at  nitrlit. 

Testa  rcccivcil  !i 

,  who  was  on  tlio 

no  mention,  and 

irtyred  Canadiau 

»ric  also  preached 


,     10.  Ish  npeli- 

yohmi  kt-t,  vhA 

[ilpak  pirn  ai  tUi- 

ita  ish  pi  kasliofi 

Invuhmichasliko. 


struggles  during  that  period  wo  have  no  record.  A  letter  of  his 
from  the  Indian  town  of  Tchicachee,  dated  November  23,  1732,  is 
still  preserved  at  Palis  in  the  archives  of  the  Marino  and  Colonies, 
and  is  said  to  be  an  interesting  account  of  his  mission,  but  it  has 
never  been  copied.* 

When  Baudouin  was  at  last  on  the  i)oint  of  reaping  the  rewai'd 
of  his  long  labors,  the  troubles  excited  by  the  English  and  his 
manifest  danger,  induced  Father  Vitre,  then  the  Superior,  to  re- 
call him  to  New  Orleans..  He  was  himself  Superior  in  1750,  and 
tenderly  attached  to  the  field  of  his  toil,  was  taking  measures  to 
restore  the  mission  ;f  but  its  subsequent  history  is  unknown,  al- 
though it  subsisted  till  about  1770.]; 

Such  were 'the  Jesuit  missions  in  Louisiana.  They  never  had 
the  extent  nor  the  favorable  field  which  those  of  Canada  at  first 
possessed,  and  unfortunately  the  missionaries  employed  have  left 
us  scanty  memoirs  of  their  exertions.  The  missions  extend  in  their 
utmost  limit  from  1700,  the  visit  of  Montigny,  to  1714,  and  from 
the  arrival  of  Father  Vitro,  in  1725,  to  1704.  In  the  later  yeai-s  of 
this  period,  the  hostility  then  growing  against  the  Society  of  Jesus 
in  France  greatly  impeded  the  success  of  any  missionary  eftbrt, 
and  rendered  it  impossible  to  attempt  any  extension  of  their  plan. 
The  French  court  at  last  suppressed  all  the  houses  of  the  order, 
and  seized  their  property.  The  royal  ofiicers  in  New  Orleans, 
without  awaiting  the  royal  decrees  in  form,  dispersed  the  Jesuits 
at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  confiscated  their  property,  and  sold  ik 
off  prior  to  February,  1764.§  With  this  ended  all  the  Jesuit 
missions  in  the  lower  valley  of  the  Mississippi. 

Under  the  Spanish  rule,  there  is  no  trace  of  any  efi^'ort  made  to 
restore  the  ancient  missions,  although  some  attempt  was  probably 

13.  MikmtJt  anukpylika  yoka  ik  ia  chik  pim  aiahno  hosli,  amba  nan  okpiilo 
a  ish  pi  a  hlakcfihinchaslike.    Amen. — Choctaw  Test<iment,  Matt.  vi.  9. 

*  Louisiana  Hist.  Coll.  ii.  77 ;  Arch.  Portf.  8  n.  407. 

+  Vivier,  in  Lcttres  Edif,  et  Curieupcs ;  Kip. 

t  Ann.  Prop.  ix.  8'.'.  §  Louisiana  Hiet.  ("oil.  ii.  c-. 


452 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


made  at  the  time  wlicn  New  Orleans  was  made  an  episropal  See. 
No  mission  was,  liowever,  established,  and  the  Jesuit  missions  were 
the  last  colonial  eflbrts  to  civilize  the  Indians  in  the  lower  and 
western  valley  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  missions  which  we  have  thus  described  never  acquired  the 
solidity  and  permanence  of  the  otheis.  The  Quapaws-Arkansas 
are  at  the  present  time  almost  the  only  remnants  of  the  old  French 
missions.  They  are,  as  we  shall  see,  now  under  the  care  of  the 
Jesuits  in  Indian  Territory. 

Like  the  other  missions,  that  of  Louisiana  can  count  its  heroes 
who  did  not  hold  life  dearer  than  duty.  Foucault,  St.  Come, 
Membre,  Cavelier,  Testu,  du  Poisson,  and  Souel  dyed  with  their 
blood  the  land  where  they  had  preached  the  gospel,  earnestly, 
zealously,  if  not  with  fruit. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 


!    I 


S       4 


THE    LOUISIANA    MISSI0I4S    REVIVED    IN    MISSOURI    AND    INDIAN 

TERRITORY. 

LouiHiana  becomes  part  of  the  United  States — Du  Bourg,  Bishop  of  New  Orleans— The 
Society  of  Jesus  restored— Du  Bourg  invites  the  Jesuits  to  Missouri — Disfiosition  of 
tiie  Indians — Fatlier  Van  Quickenbornc  leads  out  a  colony  of  missionaries — La  Croix 
among  tlie  Osages — Scliools— Odin  and  the  Quapaws— Van  Quickenborne's  plan— 
Anduze  witii  tlie  Apalaclics  and  Pascagoulas— Lutz  and  the  Kansas— The  Flatlieads— 
Van  Quickcnborne  prepares  to  found  permanent  missions — The  Kikapoos — Potta- 
wotaniies — Neighboring  tribes — Death  of  Van  Quickenborne — New  mission  amonj: 
the  0:<ages— The  Miamis— Sioux — Blackfeet— The  territory  formed  into  a  vicariate 
— Bishop  Mi^ge— State  of  his  diocese. 

The  power  of  Spain  in  Louisiana  passed  now  to  other  hands. 
The  eagle  of  Napoleon  and  the  tricolor  of  the  Republic  were  to 
occupy  the  territory  colonized  under  the  lilies  of  the  Bourbons. 
But  almost  at  the  same  instant  the  whole  vast  territory  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  United  States. 


episcopal  Soo. 

,  missions  wore 

the  lower  and 

3r  acquired  tlie 

ipaws- Arkansas 

the  old  French 

he  care  of  the 

30unt  its  heroes 
ault,  St.  Come, 
yed  with  their 
ospel,  earnestly, 


FKENCIl   MISSIONS. 


458 


AND    INDIAN 


If  New  Orleans— The 
souri — Disposition  of 
Issionaries — La  Croix 
liickenborne's  plan- 
las— The  Flatlioads— 
le  Kikapoos— Potta- 
ew  mission  anion? 
led  into  a  vicariate 


I  to  other  hands. 

^public  were  to 

the  Bourbons. 

Ktory  was  trans- 


Spain,  as  we  liave  seen,  did  nothing  to  restore  the  Indian  mis- 
sions begun  by  France.  Indeed,  after  supjiressing  the  Jesuits,  it 
was  difficult  enough  for  her  to  meet  the  exig»incies  of  the  missions 
already  established.  Still,  she  was  a  (Jatholic  power,  and  the  acts 
which  gave  the  sway  of  the  country  to  Napoleon  or  the  cabinet 
at  Washington,  gave  omen  of  sadder  days  for  the  cause  of  Catho- 
lic zeal.  Such  was  not,  however,  the  case.  In  the  designs  of 
Providence  it  was  the  prelude  to  the  new  Indian  missions  which 
have  been  carried  on  vigorously  to  the  present  time. 

As  before,  the  Jesuits  were  to  be  the  pioneei-s,  and  their  new 
missions  were  to  be  a  legitimate  consequence  of  their  former 
eilbrts.  Their  houses  had,  as  we  have  seen,  been  suppressed  by 
the  government  of  France  :  the  society  itself  was  extinguished  by 
Pope  Clement  XIV.  Many  membei's  remained  in  Canada  and 
Maryland,  laboring  in  the  ranks  of  the  secular  clergy,  but  none  of 
the  French  Jesuits  who  had  labored  in  America  lived  to  see  the 
restoration  of  their  order.  Not  so  those  of  England.  Several  of 
the  Fathers  in  Maryland  survived  the  close  of  the  century,  two  oc- 
cupied the  episcopal  chair  as  Bishop  and  Coadjutor  of  Baltimore. 
When  Pius  VII.  approved  the  society  as  existing  in  Russia,  and 
pennitted  those  in  Naples  to  reorganize,  Carroll  and  Neale,  in  a 
touching  address,  implored  the  same  privilege  for  the  aged  Fathere 
of  Maryland.  This  was  granted,  intercourse  with  Russia  was 
opened,  and  when  the  society  was  finally  re-established  by  the 
bull  "  Solicitudo  omnium  ecclesiarum,"  the  Maryland  mission  was 
already  in  a  state  of  prasperity. 

When  the  zealous  du  Bourg  was  appointed  to  the  See  of  New 
Orleans,  the  whole  of  the  couiltry  west  of  the  Mississippi,  with  its 
Indian  tribes,  became  the  field  of  his  labore.  This  was  the  ancient 
Louisiana.  To  revive  the  faith  in  the  Indians  who  had  been  con- 
verted, to  call  others  to  the  faith,  needed  zealous,  devoted  men, 
and  he  applied  to  the  Jesuits  of  Maryland. 

The  western  tribes  remembered  the  old  missionaries,  and  re- 


454 


AMKinOAN    CATIIOJ.K'   MISSIONS. 


m 


u 


jectecl  tlie  ministers  olTored  by  government.  Sioux  nnd  Mi.'unis 
called  in  siirkness  on  the  Black-ijfown  and  solicited  baptism.  Tiie 
Osages,*  headed  by  their  chief,  Sansnerf,  invited  the  IJishop  to 
visit  tlieir  villaj^es,  and  promised  to  embrace  the  i'aith.f  Al- 
thougli  relying  mainly  on  the  Jesuits,  du  ]3ourg  did  not  let  the 
time  pass  in  vain.  La  Croix,  chaplain  of  the  Ladies  of  th(!  Sa<'re<l 
Heart  at  Florissant,  was  sent  in  1821  to  the  Osage  tribe,  lit- 
was  well  received  at  the  only  village  not  then  engaged  in  tin.' 
chase,  and  from  their  welcome  conceived  great  hopes  of  seeing 
the  faith  jM'osper.  During  his  stay  he  baptized  forty  of  various 
ages.  Having  thus  prepared  the  way,  he  returned  in  1822.  Noth- 
ing could  exceed  the  joy  of  the  Osages  at  his  return :  they  came 
out  on  horseback  to  meet  him,  and  then  with  every  mark  of 
honor  conducted  him  to  the  cabin  of  the  chief,  Sansnerf.  After 
a  series  of  banquets  here,  lie  spent  ten  days  in  visiting  the  other 

*  The  Osngcs,  first  made  known  by  Marquette,  were  frequently  visited, 
and,  as  we  liuvc  seen,  invited  Gravier  to  tlieir  country.  In  1720  some  of 
the  Missouris  went  to  France,  and  the  chief's  daughter  liaving  embraocil 
Christianity,  married  Sergeant  Dubois  ;  but  the  tribe  soon  after  their  return 
massacred  all  the  French  at  the  post. — Duniont,  in  Louisiana  Hist.  Coll.  v.  37. 

In  the  language  of  the  Osages,  the  Our  Father,  for  which  we  are  indebtcJ 
to  Bishop  Miege  and  Rev.  F.  Schoenmakers,  is  as  follows  : 

"  Intaatze        ankougtapi        manshigta        ninkshe,        shaashe        digta 
Father  our  sky  sitting  in         name  thy 

ougoupegtzelow.        Wawalatankapi    digta    tsJiigtailow.  Ilakistze 

bo  it  worshipped  much.       Greatness         thine    let  it  come.       As  thy  will 
inkshe  manshigta  ekionpi  manshan   lal    akaha     ckongtziow.         Ilumixilo 
in  sky        they  do     earth     this      on      just  so  let  it  be.      This  day 

humpako      sani     waatziitze     onkougtapi     wakupiow.        Ouskan      pishi 
day  all  corn  our  give  us  dealings       bad 

waxshigepa  onkionlo  ankalc  ekon  ouskan  pishi  ankougtapi 

to  us  have  done  wo  again  throw  off.   Wo       so      dealing    bad         ours 

waorilapiow.  Ouskan    pishi    ankagchctapi    wasankapi   uinkow. 

throw  away  from  us.       Dealings    bad  ours  us  try  not 

Nanshi  pishi  inkshe   walitsisapiow.      Ekongtziow. 
but       evil      in      remove  from  us.      Be  it  bo. 

t  Ann.  Prop.  I.  i.  239 ;  iv.  56.  "^ 


\    ^     ■} 


FUKNOU    MISSIONS. 


4or) 


X  and  Miainls 
baptism.     V\o 
the  liisliop  t«» 
le  faitli.f     Al- 
lid  not  lot  tlii' 
'S  of  tlu!  Sacicil 
ago  tiibo.     llf 
Miffaffed  in  tin; 
hopos  of  seeinir 
forty  of  various 
nl822.    Notli- 
irn :  thoy  canio 
eveiy  mark  of 
N'lnsnerf.     Aftor 
siting  tlie  otlior 

frequently  visitcil, 

1  In  1720  some  of 

having  embraecil 

after  their  return 

na  JIM.  Coll.  v.  37. 

I  we  are  indebted 

shaasho        cligta 

name  thy 

ow.  llakistze 

no.       As  tliy  will 

iow.  Ilumpalo 

it  be.      This  day 

Ousknn      pi;«lii 
deaUngs       bad 
pishi  ankougtafii 
bad         ours 
lisankapi   ninkow. 
IS  try  not 


villages,  everywliero  mooting  a  most  cordial  welcome.  Ili.s  in- 
structions were  heartl  with  attention,  divine  woi-ship  attended  with 
respect,  and  he  was  about  to  build  u  chapol,  when  ho  was  soi/e<l 
by  a  dangerous  fever,  which  compoilod  him  to  return.* 

Meanwhile  the  Jesuits  of  Maryland  had  jovfullv  accepted  the 
otter  of  du  liourg,  which  a  j)romise  of  the  governnu'nt  to  allow 
two  hundred  dollars  a  yoar  for  oacih  missionary  rendered  free  from 
all  hazard.  The  novitiate  iu  Maryland  contained  seven  young 
Belgians,  Francis  do  Maillet,  Peter  J.  do  Smet,  VeiToydt,  Van 
Asche,  Clet,  Smedts,  and  Verhaegen,  directed  by  the  Father 
Mastere  Charles  V^an  Quickenbornc  and  Temmerman.  Embar- 
nissments  had  for  a  moment  induced  a  design  of  dissolving  the 
novitiate,  but  on  the  of!'er  of  the  Bishop  of  New  Orleans  it  was 
ofiered  to  him  to  transport  to  Upper  Louisiana,  there  to  become  a 
hive  of  missionaries.  Setting  out  at  once,  the  Jesuits  soon  ar- 
rived, and  began  an  establishment  at  Florissant,!  where,  by  tlie 
month  of  June,  1824,  they  had  opened  a  boarding-school  for  In- 
dian boys,  of  whom  they  had  eight,  supported  by  a  government 
allowance, J  while  the  Ladies  of  the  Sacred  Heart  had  about  as 
many  girls  in  their  school.§ 

The  Jesuits  were  thus  restored  to  the  missions  on  the  Missouri : 
those  on  the  Mississippi  were  confided  to  the  Lazarists,  who  pro- 
jected a  foundation  at  Prairie  du  Chien.||  On:-  of  their  body, 
Odin,  now  Bishop  of  Galveston,  visited  the  Quii^i^vs  on  the  Ar- 
kansas River.  Nothing  could  exceed  their  joy  at  the  an-ival  of  a 
missionary.  "Now  will  I  die  happy,"  said  the  aged  chief  Sar- 
rasin,  who  had  come  out  with  all  his  family,  "now  will  I  die  hap- 
py, as  I  have  seen  my  father,  the  Black-gown  of  France."  Though 
all  really  pagans,  they  preserved  an  affectionate  remembrance  of 
the  missionaries,  and  evinced  a  strong  desire  to  have  one  among 


I        ii 


*  Ann.  Prop.  I.  ii.  51 ;  iv.  ^t. 
X  Id.  1.  iv.  4&. 


t  Id.  I.  iv.  40-43 ;  €ret.  Joly.  vi.  288. 
§Id.  ii.  397.  Hid.  I.  V.  71. 


456 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


;l 


them  again.  Mr.  Odin  said  mass  among  thom,  and  gleaning  somo 
idea  of  their  religit)n  and  customs,  returned  to  obtain,  if  possible, 
some  means  to  restore  the  Arkansas  mission.* 

Father  Van  Quickenborne  now  drew  up,  at  the  suggestion  of 
the  government,  his  phm  for  the  improvement  of  the  Indians.  It 
was  as  follows : 

"  1.  Our  little  Indian  seminaiy  should  continue  to  support  the 
present  number  of  boys  from  eight  to  twelve  yeare  of  age,  whilr 
the  Ladies  of  the  Sacred  Heart  in  our  neighborhood  should  brinii' 
up  about  as  many  girls  of  the  same  tribe.  They  should  be  taken 
young,  from  eight  to  twelve,  to  habituate  them  more  easily  to  tha 
customs  and  industry  of  civil  life,  and  impress  more  debply  on  their 
hearts  the  principles  of  religion. 

2.  After  five  or  six  yeai-s'  education,  it  would  be  good  that  eacli 
youth  should  choose  a  wife  among  the  pupils  of  the  Sacred  Heart 
before  returning  to  his  tribe. 

3.  Within  two  or  three  years  two  missionaries  should  go  to  re 
side  in  that  nation  to  gain  their  confidence  and  esteem,  and  gradu- 
ally persuade  a  number  to  settle  together  on  a  tract  to  be  set  apart 
by  government.     Agricultural  implements  and  other  necessary 
tools  for  the  new  establishment  to  be  furnished. 

4.  As  soon  as  this  new  town  was  formed,  some  of  the  couples 
formed  in  our  establishments  should  be  sent  there  with  one  of  the 
said  missionaries,  who  should  be  immediately  replaced,  so  that  two 
should  always  be  left  with  the  body  of  the  tribe,  till  it  was  gradu- 
ally absorbed  in  the  civilized  colony. 

5.  Our  missionaries  should  then  pass  to  another  tribe,  and  pro- 
ceed successively  with  each  in  the  same  manner  as  the  first. 

6.  As  the  number  of  missionaries  and  our  resources  increased, 
the  civilization  of  two  or  more  tribes  might  be  undertaken  at  once. 

The  expense  of  carrying  out  this  plan  might  be  estimated  thus : 

•  • 

*  Ann.  Prop.  ii.  380;  iii.  496. 


J. 

d  gleaning  mmo 
)tain,  if  possible, 

le  suggestion  of 
the  Indians,     Ii 

)  to  support  tlu' 
11*8  of  age,  while 
ood  should  hrnvj; 
should  be  taken 
ore  easily  to  ti»(,' 
e  debply  on  their 

e  good  that  each 
ihe  Sacred  Heart 

I  should  go  to  re- 

iteeni,  and  gradu- 

ct  to  be  set  apart 

other  necessary 

e  of  the  couples 

with  one  of  the 

aced,  so  that  two 

till  it  was  gradii- 

r  tribe,  and  pio- 
is  the  first, 
ources  increased, 
lertaken  at  once. 
estimated  thus : 


FRENCH   MISSIONS.  457 

Support  of  16  to  24  oliilJren  iiitho  two  ostablishments $1900 

Three  missionaries 600 

Totul |'2o(>0 

Such  was  the  great  schenio  projected  by  the  Jesuits  of  the 
West,  never  indeed  to  be  realized,  but,  as  their  history  shows,  one 
which  would  have  approached,  if  it  did  not  obtain,  complete  suc- 
cess."* 

The  Jesuits  had  thus  their  field  at  the  north.  In  1825  the  Kcv. 
Mr.  Anduze  had  reached  Nakitoches  with  Bishop  du  Bourg,  and 
found  there  the  remnant  of  the  Apalaches  and  Pascagoulas  united 
in  a  single  tribe,  whose  cemetery  showed  them  to  be  Christians, 
although  from  the  long  want  of  pastors  ignorant,  knowing  little 
beyond  their  prayers,  but  all  careful  to  baptize  the  children.f 

To  cany  out  his  plans,  Van  Quickenborne,  in  August,  1827, 
visited  the  old  Osage  village  near  Harmony,  and  in  the  house  of 
the  Presbyterian  missionary  baptized  ten,  heard  confessions  and 
said  mass,  for  many  of  the  tribe  w^ere  Catholics.  He  then  visited 
the  villages  on  the  Niosho,  where,  to  the  joy  of  the  Indians,  ho 
spent  two  weeks,  and  baptized  seventeen  of  the  tribe.J 

About  the  same  time  the  chief  of  the  Kansas  anivcd  at  St 
Louis  to  treat  with  the  Indian  agents.  In  a  public  assembly  he 
requested  some  one  to  teach  his  nation  how  to  serve  the  Great 
Spirit.  A  Protestant  minister  present  otfered  to  go :  but  the  chief 
eyeing  him,  said  with  a  smile,  "  This  is  not  what  I  ask :  this  man 
apparently  has  a  wife  and  children,  like  myself  and  other  men  of 
mv  tribe :  I  do  not  wish  him.  Whenever  I  come  to  St.  Louis  I 
go  to  the  great  house  (church)  of  the  French,  there  I  see  Black- 
gowns  who  have  no  wives  or  children  :  these  are  the  men  I  ask." 
Joseph  Anthony  Lutz,  a  young  Gennan  priest  of  a  delicate  consti- 
tution, but  intrepid  and  full  of  zeal,  heard  this  and  entered  into 
correspondence  with  the  chief.§    Bishop  Rosati  at  last  yielded  his 


Ann.  Prop,  ii,  894. 


+  Id.  iv.  506. 
20 


:  Id.  iv.  512. 


?  Id.  iii.  520. 


468 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


consent,  and  Lutz  sot  out  for  his  mission  with  Vasquoz,  the  pious 
ii^i'ui  of  th(!  Kansas,  wiio  died  on  the  way,  leaving  tiie  zealous 
piit'st  to  pursue  his  way  alono.* 

Arriving  at  the  Kansjis  village,  all  was  to  be  brgun :  the  cus- 
toms, languag«',  and  ideas  of  the  Indians  were  to  bt?  studied,  a  mis- 
sion site  selected,  and  good-will  to  be  gained.  The  tribe  wjis  then 
tlosolated  by  sickness :  nearly  two  hundred  had  died,  and  now  the 
chief,  Noml)C-ware,  lay  at  the  })oint  of  death.  This  chieftain, 
whose  name.  Furious,  characterized  his  disposition,  had  in  liis  ill- 
ness raved  fuii(nisly  against  Ood.  No  soonc'r,  however,  had  he 
heard  of  the  coming  of  the  Tobosca  or  Black-gown  than  he  had 
himself  borne  to  njeet  him,  entirely  changed  in  heart.  "O  Fa- 
ther," he  cried,  "  welcome:  at  last  I  see  him  whom  I  have  so  much 
desired  ;  my  heart  leaps  with  joy.  Pray  the  povveiful  Wachkanta 
(VVakonda)  to  restore  my  strength,  for  I  will  aid  you  in  your  la- 
bors among  the  Kansjis."  The  tiibe  received  the  new  missionary 
with  every  mark  of  respect,  which  increa.sed  on  their  perceiving 
how  easily  he  adopted  their  usages.  The  anival  of  a  government 
agent  enabled  him  to  address  them  in  a  body,  and  announce  the 
object  of  his  coming.  A  very  good  disposition  was  evinced,  but 
such  was  the  barbaiism  and  superetition  of  the  tribe  that  he  did 
not  venture  to  baptize  any  adults,  although  many  solicited  the 
sacrament  at  his  hands.f 

In  1828  Van  Quickenborne  again  visited  the  Osages,  while 
Badin  in  the  south  baptized  at  Attacapas  some  of  the  almost  an- 
nihilated tribe  of  Sitimachas,J  and  Odin,  a  Shawnee  chief.§ 
This  was  not  all:  in  1831  two  Fiatheads  of  a  party  of  four  fell 
sick  at  St.  Louis,  and  by  signs  requested  baptism,  which  was 
administered,  it  being  found  that  they  had  learned  some  idea  of 
Christianity  from  two  Iroquois  of  the  Caughnewaga  mission,  who 


*  Ann  Prop.  iii.  539,  550. 
X  Id.  iv.  572,  599. 


t  Id.  ii.  556. 
§  Id.  vil.  165. 


squoz,  the  pious 
ing  tlio  zealous 


K'gun :  the  ciis- 
i  studied,  a  inis- 
1}  tribe  wjis  then 
sd,  and  now  the 

This  chieftain, 
I,  had  in  Iiis  ill- 
)\vevcr,  ha<l  ho 
vn  than  he  had 
heart.     "  O  Fa- 

I  have  so  mucii 
rful  Wachkanta 
you  in  your  hi- 
new  missionary 
their  perceiving 
)f  a  government 
1  announce  the 

as  evinced,  but 
ye  that  he  did 
ly  soUcited  the 

Osages,  while 
the  almost  an- 
lawnee  chief.§ 
rty  of  four  fell 
ira,  which  was 
d  some  idea  of 

a  mission,  who 


556. 
.  165. 


® 


FKEN'CII    MISSIONS. 


45y 


had  wandered  thus  westward  and  been  a<l<^pted  among  the  Flat- 


lU'l 


ad> 


A  rich  field  thus  opened  for  the  new  missions:  tribes  eager  to 
receive  the  Catholic,  and  steadily  rejecting  the  JVotestant  envoys; 
soliciting  the  doctrine  which  their  fathers  had  so  <x>ldly  heard; 
the  government  not  opposed,  and  even  inclined  to  favor  in  some 
degree  the  efforts  of  Catholic  missionaries,  which,  in  a  utilitarian 
view,  seemed  most  likely  of  success.  As  yet,  howc'ver,  no  perma- 
nent mission  was  formed.  There  were  CatJiolics  in  almost  every 
tribe,  in  many  cases,  like  the  whites  on  the  borders,  trusting  to  an 
occasional  visit  of  a  priest,  and  from  their  petty  number,  almost 
lost  amid  the  iiitidels;  there  were  many,  too,  who  pr(iserved  but 
the  name,  yet  were  so  numerous  that  a  missionary  would  ti'id  a 
sufficient  field  among  them. 

As  yet  no  permanent  mission  had  been  formed,  but  as  Indians 
of  various  parts  east  of  the  Mississippi  were  djiily  transported  to 
what  is  now  called  Indian  Territory,  a  grejity  facility  was  afforded. 
Van  Quickeuborne  set  out  again  from  St.  Louis  in  June,  1804.f 
On  entering  Indian  Tenitory  lie  met  a  man  with  several  women. 
"  I  am  a  Shawnee,"  said  the  man ;  "  I  was  baptized  by  a  Catholic 
priest ;  so  was  my  wife,  she  is  a  Wyandot ;  but  as,  since  our  emi- 
gration, we  have  seen  no  priest,  we  go  to  the  Methodist  church." 
The  other  women  were  Kaskaskias,;j;  w  ho  still  adhered  to  the  ftiith, 
although  without  a  regular  missionary  since  the  days  of  Father 
Meurin.  With  their  neighboi-s,  the  Peorias,  now  counting  in  all 
but  140  souls,  they  earnestly  implored  the  missionary  not  to 
forsake  them.  Although  debased,  degraded  by  intoxication,  they 
were  still  Christians ;  and  some,  like  the  chief's  daughter,  faithful 
to  their  duties  as  such,  undertaking  from  time  to  time  a  long 
journey   to   approach    the   sacraments.      Near    tliem   were   the 

*  Ann.  Prop.  v.  599. 

+  Yet  see  x.  129,  which  puts  it  in  1835. 

X  Only  one  man  ami  60  half-brccds  of  the  tribe  remained. 


o 


460 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


i  1 

1 

1  '-  '^ 

! 

■ 
■ 

two  Miami  clans,  the  Weas  and  Piankeshaws,  similarly  reduced, 
and  fallen  into  the  same  disorders.  Among  these  the  mission- 
ary distributed  rosaries,  justly  deeming  that  a  revival  of  their 
devotion  to  the  Blessed  Viigin  would  be  the  easiest  step  to  a  con- 
version. 

He  then  visited  the  Kikapoos.  The  celebrated  Prophet  called 
upon  him :  Blackhawk  was  absent.  When  the  chief  returned,  the 
Jesuit  told  him  that  he  had  come  in  person  to  leani  whether  it 
was  really  true  that  they  wished  a  Black-gown,  as  he  had  been 
told.  "  Have  you  a  wife  ?"  was  his  reply.  "  You  know  well," 
rejoined  Van  Quickenborne,  "  that  Catholic  priests  do  not  marry : 
I  am  a  Black-gown."  The  chief  promised  to  hold  a  council  and 
send  an  answer  to  St.  Louis.  He  kept  his  word,  and  invited  the 
Black-gown  to  his  tribe. 

The  Pottawotamies,  Chippewas,  and  Ottawas  had,  as  one  tribe, 
sold  their  territory  and  agreed  to  remove  westward.  A  pagan 
party  of  the  first  of  these  tribes  Avas  already  among  the  Kikapoos. 
Their  chief  wished  a  Catholic  missionary,  and  persuaded  his  clan 
to  receive  no  other.  After  many  conferences  with  Van  Quicken- 
borne,  he  came  up  on  the  day  of  his  departure  to  bid  him  farewell. 
"Do  not  forget  us.  Father.  I  conjure  you  to  pray  to  the  Great 
Spirit  for  us.  Come  and  live  among  us.  We  know  that  the 
Black-gowns  have  been  chosen  by  the  Saviour  of  the  world  to  in- 
struct us.  Bear  us  in  your  heart,  and  when  you  return  we  will 
listen  to  you." 

Encouraged  by  this,  the  missionaries  obtained  the  government 
authority  to  begin  a  school  and  mission  among  the  Kikapoos  and 
Pottawotamies  in  the  spring.* 

The  two  Flatheads  who  returned  had  spread  the  tidings  through 
Oregon  of  the  kindness  of  the  Black-gowns.  An  Iroquois  came 
ivith  his  children  to  St.  Louis  to  have  them  baptized,  and  implored 

*  Ann.  Prop.  ix.  88. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


461 


lilarly  reduced, 
5e  the  mission- 
evival  of  their 
t  step  to  a  con- 
Prophet  called 
ef  returned,  the 
earn  whether  it 
8  he  had  been 
)u  know  well," 
do  not  marry: 
i  a  council  and 
,nd  invited  the 

id,  as  one  tribe, 

ird.     A  pagan 

I  the  Kikapoos. 

Liaded  his  clan 

Van  Quicken- 

d  him  farewell. 

f  to  the  Great 

enow  that  the 

e  world  to  in- 

return  we  will 

le  government 
Kikapoos  and 

idings  through 
'roquois  came 
and  implored 


missionaries  for  his  new  countiy.  Here,  too,  it  was  resolved  to 
found  a  mission.* 

In  May,  183G,  Father  Van  Quickenborno  set  out  with  Father 
Hoecken  and  two  lay-brothers  to  found  the  Kikapoo  mission.  On 
an.-iving  at  their  country,  difficulties  were  raised  by  the  government 
agent,  who  at  last  gave  the  missionaries  positive  ordeis  to  suspend 
their  labors.  Sickness  soon  prostrated  the  Fathers;  and  as  tidings 
of  war  alaraied  the  Kikapoos,  Van  Quickenborne  took  the  oppor- 
tunity of  performing  his  annual  retreat.  In  this  way  they  were 
enabled  to  pass  speedily  the  time  which  elapsed  till  the  new  orders 
came. 

These  were  favorable,  and  the  missionaries  now  selected  a  spot 
for  the  mission-house  in  an  agreeable  and  healthy  site,  about  400 
paces  from  the  Missouri,  near  its  junction  with  Salt  Creek.  Here 
their  house  was  built,  and  the  two  missionaries  began  their  labors. 
Van  Quickenborne  soon  after,  leaving  Hoecken  there,  hastened,  as 
he  had  promised,  to  the  Weas  and  Piankeshaws,  Kaskaskias,  and 
Peorias,  who  had  finally  listened  to  other  missionaries,  and  of 
whom  many  had  become,  exteriorly,  at  least,  Protestants.  The 
Wea  and  Kaskaskia  chiefs  had  remained  Catholics,  and  when 
with  them,  Van  Quickenborne  asked  whether  they  had  become 
Protestants,  all  were  silent,  till  a  woman,  with  tears,  acknowledged 
it,  believing  it  better  to  be  something  than  to  have  no  worship. 

Their  state  of  abandonment  moved  the  good  Father's  heart :  he 
promised  to  visit  them  regularly  till  a  missionary  could  be  sta- 
tioned among  them.f 

Here,  however,  Van  Quickenbome's  laboi-s  end.  First  Superior 
of  his  order  in  the  West,  he  had  restored  the  Jesuit  missions 
among  the  Indian  tribes.  After  a  brief  illness  he  expired  at  the 
Sioux  portage  on  the  iVth  of  August,  1836,  in  the  fiftieth  year  of 
his  age.J     His  mission  was,  however,  firmly  established.     Father 


*  Ann.  Prop.  ix.  103,  x.  145.        f  Id.  x.  129.        X  W.  240 ;  Cath.  Alma. 


462 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


W4 

^W' 

Ir 

# 

i|-j  ,.  i     I         ^eE 

^^ 

Iloeckon,  aided  by  Verreydt,  still  remained  with  the  Kikapoos. 
Veihaegon  hastened  to  Washington  to  eftect  such  arrangements 
with  the  Secretary  of  War  as  would  enable  him  to  found  a  Potta- 
wotamie  mission  in  the  same  territory ;  and  having  succeeded  to 
his  utmost  desire,  set  out  on  the  2d  of  May,  183G,  with  Fathers 
de  Smet  and  Eysvogels,  and  with  Claessens,  a  temporal  coadjutor 
for  the  territory  of  the  Indian  tribes,  and  soon  reached  the  Kika- 
poo  village.  From  this  point  he  proceeded  with  Father  Christian 
Iloecken  to  the  Pottawotamies  of  the  woods,  on  Osage  River,  and 
after  some  difficulty  reached  the  village,  where  they  were  received 
with  open  aims  by  the  Catholic  chief,  Napoleon  Bourassa,  who 
had  been  educated  in  Kentucky,  and  spoke  English  and  French 
perfectly.  The  principal  chief  welcomed  them,  and  recounting 
the  spiritual  destitution  of  his  tribe,  implored  them  not  to  forsake 
their  children.  Here  Iloecken  remained  for  a  time  to  administer 
the  sacraments ;  and  Verhaegcn  having  consoled  them  with  the 
hope  of  soon  possessing  a  church  and  resident  missionary,  returned 
to  St.  Louis. 

Meanwhile  de  Smet,  Verreydt,  and  Brother  Mazzeiil  had  crossed 
the  tracts  of  the  lowas  and  Ottoes  to  reach  the  village  of  the 
prairie  Pottawotamies,*  a  tribe  made  up  of  Pottawotamies  proper, 
Sacs,  Foxes,  Chippeways,  Ottawas,  Menomonees,  Kikapoos,  and 
Winnebagoes.  Among  these  they  began  their  mission  under  the 
protection  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  and  St.  Joseph.  A  little  chapel, 
twenty-four  feet  square,  surmounted  by  a  modest  steeple,  soon  rose 
in  the  wilderness ;  and  beside  it  the  log-huts  of  the  missionaries. 
Their  field  offered  a  life  of  crosses,  privations,  and  patience,  yet 
relying  on  the  aid  of  divine  grace  and  the  prayers  of  their  brethren, 
they  boldly  began  their  work.  The  result  of  the  first  four  months 
was  indeed  consoling :  many  of  the  Indians  showed  a  great  desire 
for  instruction.     The  missionaries  opened  a  school :  their  log-hut 

*  These  are  perhaps  the  old  Mascoutens. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


463 


the  Kikapoos. 
Ii  arrangements 
>  found  a  Potta- 
iig  succeeded  to 
G,  with  Fathers 
poral  coadjutor 
iched  the  Kika- 
^'ather  Christian 
'sage  River,  and 
ly  were  received 
L  Bourassa,  who 
ish  and  French 
and  recounting 
n  not  to  forsake 
le  to  adnninister 

them  with  the 
iionary,  returned 

leai  had  crossed 

)  village  of  tlie 

rotamies  proper, 

Kikapoos,  and 

ssion  under  the 

A  httle  chapel, 

eeple,  soon  rose 

le  missionaries. 

d  patience,  yet 

their  brethren, 

rst  four  months 

1  a  great  desire 

:  their  log-hut 


could  hold  but  thirty  pupils ;  it  was  soon  crowded  to  overflowing. 
The  Indians,  who  left  the  schools  of  other  missionaries  silent,  soli- 
ilaiy,  and  empty,  crowded  the  log-school  of  the  Jesuit  to  hear  the 
instructions  given  twice  a  day  to  those  who  wished  for  baptism. 
One  Imndred  and  eighteen  were  baptized  during  the  first  three 
months.  The  festival  of  the  Assumption  was  celebrated  with  the 
greatest  pomp  and  devotion.  On  all  sides  they  renounced  Nanna- 
bush  and  Mesukkummikakevi,  to  embrace  tlie  true  faith.  The 
sick  were  dragged  for  miles  to  be  enrolled  in  the  flock  of  Christ 
by  baptism ; — their  fables  were  forgotten.* 

As  in  all  the  Indian  tribes,  the  death  which  followed  baptism  in 
many  cases  was  ascribed  to  it,  or  to  some  cross,  medal,  or  prayer 
cfthe  missionary ;  and,  from  time  to  time,  the  medicine-men  would 
excite  the  greatest  trouble.  Polygamy,  too,  presented  its  fearful 
obstacle,  requiring,  as  it  did,  a  restraint  on  the  passions  to  which 
these  children  of  the  wilderness  were  not  accustomed ;  while  intoxi- 
cation, the  deadly  bane  of  the  red  race,  at  times  converted  their 
towns  into  images  of  hell. 

Not  content  with  the  field  oftered  by  the  Pottawotamies,  de  Smet 
visits  the  Sioux,  and,  after  explaining  to  them  the  Christian  doc- 
trine, makes  peace  with  them.f 

Meanwhile,  Hoecken,  at  the  first  Pottawotamie  mission  of  St. 
Stanislaus,  instructed  his  little  tribe.  At  daybreak,  after  his  medi- 
tation, he  summoned  his  flock  to  morning  prayers,  then  said  mass 
amid  their  Indian  chant,  and  followed  it  by  a  catechetical  instruc- 
tion. Then  the  day  was  given  to  labor,  and  at  sunset  all  met  to 
chant  the  evening  prayers.  His  Christians  were  all  exemplary, 
devout,  respectful,  and  faithful  in  approaching  the  sacraments. 

Not  careful  merely  of  their  spiritual  interests,  anxious  also  to 
elevate  their  social  position,  Hoecken  inspired  the  men  with  a  love 
of  labor,  and  gave  them  lessons  in  agriculture,  and  a  plentiful 


*  Ann.  Prop.  xi.  467. 


t  Id.  xiii.  50. 


464 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


harvest  showed  those  rude  ehildren  of  nature  the  advantage  of 
skill* 

But  his  little  pansh  did  not  content  his  zeal ;  he  visited  the 
Ottawas,  and  inspired  them  with  a  horror  of  intoxication  and  a  love 
of  virtue.  He  converted  and  baptized  their  chief  :f  then  extended 
his  excursions  to  the  Sioux,  (Jros  Ventres,  Ricarees,  Mandans,  and 
Assiniboins,  of  whom  he  baptized  about  400.  Meanwhile  the  Flat- 
head mission,  so  long  projected,  so  often  resolved  on,  so  frequently 
implored  by  the  Indians,  who,  amid  a  thousand  dangers,  war,  sick- 
ness, accident,  had  sent  embassy  after  embassy  for  priests,  so  often 
traversed  at  the  moment  of  execution,  was  at  last  to  be  crowned 
with  success. 

The  Kikapoo  mission,  left  by  the  death  of  Father  Van  Quicken- 
borne  under  the  care  of  Hoecken,  was  soon  after  abandoned  or  fused 
into  the  Pottawotamie  mission  of  St.  Mary's  on  Sugar  Creek,  di- 
rected by  Hoecken,  aided  by  Verreydt,  Eisvogels,  Soderini,  de  Coon, 
Guilland,  and  later  by  Schultz.  Before  long  the  mission  contained 
1200  Catholic  Indians;  and  two  schools  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion gave  every  hope  of  the  rising  generation.  The  Fathers  were 
aided  in  this  mission  by  the  Ladies  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  who 
began  a  school  at  Sugar  Creek  about  the  same  time. 

This  was  for  a  time  the  only  mission  in  Indian  Territory ;  but, 
after  1846,  a  new  one  was  begun  among  the  Osageson  the  Neosho 
River,  under  the  invocation  of  St.  Francis  Hieronymo,  by  Father 
John  Shoenmakers  and  John  Bax,  while  the  Sisters  of  Loretto,  to 
rival  the  Ladies  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  came  forwai;d  to  conduct  the 
school  for  girls.  This  mission  has  continued  to  the  present  time 
under  the  same  missionaries,  aided  by  Father  Maes,  and  afterwards 
by  Paul  Ponsiglione,  who  replaced  Bax. 

About  the  same  time,  a  new  mission  was  founded  at  the  Marais 

*  Ann,  Prop.  xiii.  50.    See  his  Letters  on  the  Pottawotamies ;  U.  S,  Oath. 
Mag.  vi.  688,  149,  214,  825. 
+  Ann.  Prop.  xiii.  60 ;  U.  S.  Cath.  Mag.  vi.  825. 


J. 

be  advantage  of 

;  he  visited  the 
nation  and  a  love 
I  then  extended 
s,  Mandans,  and 
inwhile  the  Fhit- 
)n,  so  frequently 
ingers,  war,  sick- 
priests,  so  often 
t,  to  be  crowned 

er  Van  Qiiicken- 
andoned  or  fused 
Sugar  Creek,  di- 
oderini,  de  Coon, 
lission  contained 
ourishing  condi- 
16  Fathers  were 
red  Heart,  who 
le. 

Territory;  but, 

IS  on  the  Neosho 

ymo,  by  Father 

rs  of  Loretto,  to 

to  conduct  the 

le  present  time 

and  afterwards 

d  at  the  Marais 
inieB ;  U.  S,  Catb. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


465 


des  Cygnes,  among  the  Miainis,  by  Father  Charles  Truyens  and 
Henry  Van  Micrlo;  but  it  was  abandoiu'd  in  1840.  At  that  time 
Father  de  Smet  was  making  gve^'t  efforts  to  found  a  Sioux  mission, 
and  paid  several  visits  to  the  tribe  in  1848,  while  Father  Point, 
who  liad  converted  over  a  thousand  lilackfeet,  hoped  to  raise  a 
chapel  among  them  east  of  the  Mountains.* 

The  difficulty  of  giving  full  scope  to  these  missions  east  of  the 
Mountains,  while  they  remained  a  mere  dependence  on  tlie  diocese 
of  St.  Louis,  led  to  the  erection  of  the  Vicariate  of  Indian  Terri- 
tory, which  was  committed  to  the  charge  of  Father  John  B.  Miege, 
consecrated,  on  the  25th  of  Marcli,  1851,  Bishop  of  Messena,  in 
partibus.  lie  took  up  his  residence  at  the  Pottawotamie  mission, 
and  at  the  present  moment  has  with  him  there  Fathers  Duerinck, 
Guilland,  and  Schultz,  who  attend  three  other  stations.  This 
mission  has  its  manual  labor  school,  where  fifty  boys  are  boarded 
and  educated  by  the  Fathers  and  eight  Brothers.  The  girls'  school 
contains  from  70  to  75,  under  the  charge  of  the  Ladies  of  the  Sacred 
Heart. 

The  other  mission,  that  of  St.  Francis  among  the  Osages,  is  still 
directed  by  Fathers  Shoenmakere  and  Ponsiglione,  aided  now  by 
A.  Van  Hulst,  who  visit  the  Miamis,  Quapaws,  and  several  other 
tribes.  The  manual  labor  school  here  contains  about  50  boys, 
directed  by  the  Jesuits ;  the  school  for  girls,  about  40  pupils,  under 
the  care  of  the  Sisters  of  Loretto.  Dependent  on  these  two  stations 
are  several  other  chapels  and  stations  among  various  tribes,  the 
Kikapoos,  Miamis,  Piankeshaws,  Weas,  Peorias,  and  Quapaws,  and 
the  whole  Catholic  population  is  estimated  at  nearly  6000. 

The  result  of  the  labors  of  Van  Quickenborne  is  thus  a  noble  and 
steadily  progressing  good :  the  Vicariate  contains  over  five  thou- 
sand Catholic  Indians,  and  many  of  the  younger  members,  brought 
up  to  habits  of  industry  and  neatness,  give  great  promise  for  the 


*  Ann.  Prop.  xxii.  25T. 
20* 


466 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


future.  To  Father  Van  Quickenborne,  as  the  founder  of  the 
Vice-Province  of  Missouri  and  its  Indian  missions,  too  little  honor 
has  been  paid.  His  name  is  almost  unknown,  yet  few  have  con- 
tributed more  to  the  education  of  the  white  and  the  civilization  of 
the  red  man,  to  the  sanctification  of  all.* 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 


THE    LOUISIANA    MISSIONS    REVIVED — THE    OREGON    MISSION. 

Origin  of  the  Oregon  mission — The  Flatheads — ^They  seek  missionaries — Their  trials 
and  disappointments— De  Smet  is  at  last  granted— Ho  reaches  their  village— Founds 
the  mission— Visits  the  Blackfcet  and  returns— Blanchet  and  Demers — Tlieir  lahors 
— Eeturn  of  do  Smet  witli  Point  and  Mengarlnl — Mission  village  of  St  Mary's— Tiic 
Coeurs  d'Alines — Progress  of  the  mission— Journeys  of  de  Smet — The  mission  of  the 
Cceurs  d'Alenes — Blanchet  and  Demers — Joined  by  others — Found  a  seminary— Dc 
Smet  at  St.  Louis— In  Europe— Sails  for  Oregon— Willamette— Various  missions- 
New  Sees — Present  state — ^Testimony  of  government. 

Having  already  related  the  origin  of  the  Oregon  mission,  so  far 
as  it  is  a  development  of  the  Jesuit  missions  of  Missouri,  we  now 
resume  its  history  as  an  independent  mission,  and  will  briefly 
sketch  its^  course  from  its  origin. 

At  an  early  period  Oregon  was  visited  by  French  and  Indian 

*  Father  Charles  Felix  Van  Quickenborne  was  born  at  Peteghen,  near 
Devizes,  in  the  diocese  of  Ghent,  on  the  21st  of  January,  1788.  Educated 
at  Ghent,  he  surpassed  his  classmates  in  industry  and  talents  as  much  as  in 
piety,  and  at  an  early  age  entered  the  diocesan  seminary.  As  a  priest,  he 
was  at  first  a  professor  in  the  Petit  Seminaires  or  colleges,  then  a  village 
pastor,  but,  on  the  establishment  of  the  Jesuits  in  Belgium,  entered  the 
novitiate  of  Rumbeke  on  the  14th  of  April,  1815.  After  his  period  of  pro- 
bation ho  sought  the  American  mission,  and  came  to  the  United  States  at 
the  close  of  1817.  Two  years  later  he  waS  made  Master  of  Novices.  His 
career  in  the  West  we  have  briefly  sketched.  Spent  with  toil,  he  was  seized 
with  a  bilious  fever  at  St.  Francis  or  the  Sioux  Portage,  and  after  a  brief  ill- 
ness expired  about  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  17th  of  August, 
1887,  deplored  and  regretted  by  all. — Circular  Utter  on  hit  death. 


\s. 


il^ 


1  founder  of  the 
3,  too  little  honor 
iet  few  have  con- 
the  civilization  of 


GON    MISSION, 

slonaries— Their  trials 
their  village— Founds 
Demers— Their  labors 
ge  of  St  Mary's— The 
it— The  mission  of  the 
ound  a  seminary— De 
I— Various  missions— 


)n  mission,  so  far 
Missouri,  we  now 
and  will  briefly 

jnch  and  Indian 


at  Peteghen,  near 
7,  1788.  Educated 
lents  as  much  as  in 
y.  As  a  priest,  he 
?es,  then  a  village 
Igium,  entered  the 
p  his  period  of  pro- 
le  United  States  at 
sr  of  Novices.  His 
1  toil,  he  was  seized 
,nd  after  a  brief  ill- 
le  17th  of  August, 


H 


^'■- 


I 


iquin-t  I'uixl 


'...  /  ^  > 


J^lJ.h'''  hi    .''' f.liif/Zrd'  /^/jJou/'Jy/-   .f- 


^   ?/;- 


J  •  r 


I 


i 


1^ 


m^i 


Ir 


I 


.« 


ti».  ( 


TRENCH   MISSIONS. 


467 


trappers  from  Canada,  many  of  whom  remained  for  yeai-s,  and 
cvt'n  settled  there.  Though  dejinvod  of  pastois,  and  not  always 
cxemplaiy  in  their  lives,  they  were  Catholics,  and  propagated 
among  the  tiibes  with  whom  they  associated  some  knowledge  of 
Christianity.  Some  Iroquois  of  Caughnawaga  joined  the  Flat- 
heads,  and  the  tribe  became  Christian  in  heart  as  early  as  1820, 
conforming  as  nearly  as  they  could  to  the  doctrines  and  even  the 
religious  practices  of  the  Church,  daily  oftering  up  their  prayers  to 
the  Father  of  mercies,  and  sanctifying  the  first  day  of  the  week  in 
his  honor. 

Every  year  the  tribe  assembled  on  the  Bitter-root  River.  From 
this  camp,  in  1831,  a  deputation  was  sent  to  St.  Louis  to  obtain  a 
Black-gown,  but  it  never  reached  that  city.  Most  of  the  envoys 
fyll  victims  to  disease,  and  left  their  bones  to  blanch  on  the  trail 
in  the  wilderness.  Undaunted  by  the  first  failure,  the  fervent  tribe 
sent  a  new  delegation,  which  liappily  reached  St.  Louis ;  but  the 
bishop  was  so  destitute  of  priests,  that  he  could  only  promise  to 
meet  their  wants  at  the  earliest  moment.  Buoyed  up  by  this 
promise,  they  lived  on  in  hope  ;  but  when  they  encamped  in  1837, 
and  no  Black-gown  had  yet  appeared,  they  once  more  chose  an 
embassy,  but  they  were  destined  to  a  new  disappointment :  the  five 
who  composed  it  were  massacred  by  the  Sioux.  Yet  still  the 
Flatheads  persevered.  In  1839,  they  sent  two  Iroquois  deputies, 
Peter  and  Ignatius,  Avho  at  last  obtained  the  long-desired  mis- 
sionary. Peter,  elate  with  joy,  hastened  back  to  proclaim  his  suc- 
cess ;  Ignatius  remained  to  guide  de  Smet  to  their  camp.  On  the 
30th  of  April,  1840,  that  missionary  left  Westport  with  the  an- 
nual caravan  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  whose  destination 
was  Green  River.  The  fever  of  the  plains  soon  seized  the  good 
Father ;  but  after  passing  the  Sheyenne  village,  he  arrived  on  the 
30th  of  June  at  a  rendezvous  to  which  Peter  had  sent  on  an  escort 
After  celebrating  mass  for  the  Indians  assembled  there  and  the 
Canadian  trappers,  he  set  out  with  his  brave  escort,  and  on  the 


i  :"■ 


^* 


,# 


408 


AMKUK'AN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


V:      ? 


\4i\i  of  July  anivi'd  safMv  iti  tli«'  camp  of  Pctor  Vallov,  wlioro  tho 
Flathortds  aiul  roiidcras,  t<»  tli«!  mimlM-r  of  sixtron  liiindt'cd,  had 
n.ss<'jid)lt'd.* 

His  t'litranco  int<»  tlu'ir  ('McamjMncnt  was  a  triuiiii)li,  in  wliicli 
moil,  womon,  aii<l  fhildn'ii  took  part.  '\\u'  ^ivat  cliiof,  Tjolizliit- 
/ay,  a  voiicrahlc  old  man,  who  ivniinded  one  of  thr  ancient  patri- 
archs, awaited  tho  missionary,  witli  his  cliicf  braves  ranched  aronnd 
him,  and  wished  at  oiict^  to  yield  to  the  envoy  of  Christ  all  his 
jM)Wcr.  I  >isal)usin^  the  chief  of  the  ohject  of  his  mission,  de  Smet 
arranj^ed  with  him  the  «)rder  of  the  reiii^noiis  «'xercises  of  tho  tribe. 
At  the  close  of  tho  day  two  thousand  [n«lians  assembled  bcfoi'o  his 
tent  to  recite  in  common  tiieir  evening  prayer,  and  cliant  a  solemn 
hymn,  which  they  had  themselves  composed.  * 

Such  was  the  openincj  of  the  Flathead  mission,  tho  glory  of 
our  later  annals,  (rhild  of  the  Iroquois  missions  of  two  centurioH 
back,  and  tii"st  conquest  of  the  faith  beyond  tho  Mississippi  valley. 

Ever}'  day  at  dawn  tho  aged  chief  summoned  all  to  prayer. 
On  tlic  second  day  de  Smet  had,  with  tho  aid  of  an  intei'preter, 
translat«Hl  tho  Lord's  I'rayer,  the  Creed,  and  the  Commandments.f 
A  chief  soon  learned  them  by  lieart,  and  became  the  catechist  of 
the  rest.  In  a  fortnight  all  tho  Flatheads  knew  their  prayers. 
These  were  soon  explained  thoroughly  and  completely.  In  two 
months  six  liundred  had  sufficiently  proved  their  dispositions  to  be 
admitted  to  baptism.  All  showed  the  greatest  desire  to  obey  the 
commandments  which  they  had  learned.  "  Father,"  said  the  Pan- 
dera  chief,  "  I  lived  long  in  profound  ignorance.     Then  I  unwill- 


♦  Indian  Sketches,  90;  Ann.  Prop.  xiv.  53. 

t  Tho  Lord's  Prayer  in  Flathead  and  Pcnds-d'oreillcs  is  a3  follows  : 
Kylo-e-ou  Itchitcheinask  askwest  kowakshamenshein,  ye-elskyloog.  Ent- 
ziezie  tcUetzia  spoeocz.  Assintails  yo-clstoloog  etzageel  Itchitchcmask. 
Koogwitzolt  yettilgwft  lokuitsiapetzinem.  Kowaeksweemillem  klotaiye 
kloistskwen  etzageel  kaitskolgweletn  klotaiye  kloistskwen  klielskyloeg 
koayalokshilem  takaekskwentem  klotaye  kowaeksgweeltcm  klotaye.  Ko- 
mieetzegail.    (De  Smet,  Oregon  Missions,  409.) 


,'(       ! 


'^. 


fS. 


FRENCH    MISSIONS. 


469 


i^allev,  wliorc  the 
>on  liutKlrtMl,  luul 

iuiiipl),  ill  wliicli 
t  cliii'f,  'rjolizliit- 
Im^  ancient  patri- 
'H  rancf^'d  aronnd 
nf  Clirist  all  his 
nuhsion,  df  Snict 
fiscs  of  tlio  tribo. 
nil)le(l  bclbie  his 
I  chant  a  solemn 

on,  the  ^lory  of 
af  two  centuries 
fississippi  valley, 
d  all  to  prayer, 
f  an  interpreter, 
yomniandments.f 

the  catechist  of 
w  tlieir  prayei"s. 
pletely.  In  two 
lispositions  to  be 
ssire  to  obey  the 

,"  said  the  Pan- 
Then  I  iinwill- 


a3  follows : 
e-clskyloog.  Ent- 
iel  Itchitchcmask. 
icmillem  klotaiye 
:\ven  klielskyloeg 
;om  klotaye.    Ko- 


tiriLrlydid  evil,  and  may  have;  disph'ased  the  (ireat  Spirit;  buV 
when,  with  l».  i  •!•  iiiMtnictiuii,  I  kiirw  a  thiiii;  to  Ik^  bad,  I  w- 
n«Mmre<l  it,  and  I  do  not  renuMuber  since  havinir  otlcnded  ^iod 
volimlariiy  I" 

ilaviii)!;  lliiih  tounded  ihc  mission,  d(>  Smet  set  «)nt  otj  tht;  li7th 
of  Au;;nst  for  St.  Louis,*  to  rej»ort  the  state  of  atiliirs,  and  lake  steps 
for  a  permanent  cstal>lislim«'nt.  His  way  wnx  thronifh  the  countrv 
of  the  Jilackfeet,  (irosventres,  and  Sioux,  all  hostii*'  to  the  Flat- 
heads  and  their  friends.  ]'a.s.sinuf  an  Assiniboin  party  in  safety, 
he  and  his  companions  were,  in  October,  surrounded  i>y  a  tierce 
war-party  of  the  IMackfeet.  The  soutane  of  the  missionary,  the 
crucifix  which  ,t(littered  on  his  breast  when<'ver  he  travels  over  the 
prairies,  arrested  the  eye  of  the  lilackfoot  chief.  "Who  art 
thou?"  "lie  is  a  lilack-^own,"  said  the  com|)anion  of  de  Smet.; 
"a  man  who  speaks  to  the  (Jreat  Sj»irit."  in  a  moment  all  was 
changed.  Invited  to  the  missionary's  humblt?  board,  the  cliief 
sliowed  still  greater  respect  when  he  saw  him  address  the  Great 
Spirit  before  eating.  When  the  frugal  meal  was  ended,  twelve 
Indians  stretched  a  buffalo-skin  before  him,  with  motions  indica- 
ting a  wish  that  he  should  sit  upon  it.  Supposing  it  meant  as  a 
mat,  he  did  so,  but  they  raised  it  aloft,  and  so  bore  him  in  triumph 
to  their  village.  There,  too,  he  was  treated  with  every  honor. 
"It  is  the  happiest  day  of  my  life,"  said  the  chief;  "it  is  the  first 
time  that  we  see  among  us  a  man  in  such  close  communication 
with  the  Great  Spirit.  Behold  the  braves  of  my  tribe !  I  have 
thus  unwonted  brought  them  here,  that  the  memory  of  thy  pas- 
sage may  be  ever  engraven  in  their  memoiy." 

Having  thus,  contrary  to  every  expectation,  opened  the  way  by 
the  pacification  of  a  tribe  the  terror  of  the  wilderness,  he  jjursued 
his  way  in  peace.f     His  safe  and  speedy  return  sent  a  thrill  of  joy 


♦  Ann.  Prop.  xiv.  59. 

t  Indian  Sketches,  13-58  ;  Ann.  Prop.  xiii.  487. 


^il 


470 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


!!h 


li 


(lu'oufjh  tlio  hoHits  of  nil  his  associates,  and  when,  with  tho  enthu- 
siasm of  zeal,  he  «h's<'ril)e(l  llie  favorable  (lisj)osition  »)f  tlie  Klat- 
heads,  the  liehness  of  the  vast  ficKl  opened  to  their  laboi-s,  all 
burned  witii  desire  to  join  him  on  his  return.  As  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  mission,  there  was  now  no  (juestion,  and  during 
the  winter  preparatit)ns  were  mad»;  for  its  commencement. 

l>e  Sniet's  was  not,  however,  the  oidy  mission  in  Oregon.  Un- 
known to  the  Flatheads,  as  well  as  to  the  American  Jesuit,  two 
Canadian  priests,  Francis  N.  Bl;inchet,  now  Archbishop  of  Oregon, 
and  Modest  Demers,  now  l^ishoj)  of  Vancouver,  had  reached  Fort 
Vancouver  on  the  24th  of  November,  1837,  to  the  joy  of  tho 
Canadian  families  so  long  deprived  of  tlie  sacraments.  After  at- 
tending to  their  wants  for  two  years,  Blanchet  was  met  in  June, 
1839,  at  Cowlitz,  by  twelve  natives  of  Puget  Sound,  who  had 
come  to  see  the  missionary.  While  instructing  these,  he  con- 
ceived the  plan  of  the  "  Catholic  Scale,"  a  form  of  instruction 
Avhich  represents  the  history  of  religion  and  the  various  truths  and 
mysteries  of  faith  in  a  chronological  form,  with  emblems  for  fix- 
ing it  in  the  mind.  It  was  afterwards  generally  adopted,  and 
proved  of  great  service  to  the  missionaries.*  With  this  "  Scale" 
these  Indians  in  turn  instructed  their  tribe,  and  a  knowledge  of 
the  faith  was  rapidly  propagated,  so  that  in  the  following  year 
Blanchet  met,  near  Whitby  Island,  Indians  who  had  never  seen 
a  priest,  but  had  some  knowledge  of  Christianity. 

Demers,  meanwhile,  after  laying  the  foundations  of  a  mission 
among  the  well-disposed  Indians  of  Nesqualy,  visited  Wallawalla, 
Okenjigau,  and  Colville ;  while  Blanchet,  who  had  also  visited  Nes- 
qualy, again  met  the  Puget  Sound  Indians  and  renewed  his  in- 
structions. 

Their  labore  in  1840  were  as  varied  and  as  arduous:  Demers 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  Chinook  mission,  Blanchet  planted  the 

*  Do  Smet  subsequently  publiahod  one  in  his  Indian  Sketches. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


471 


with  iho  enthu- 
im  of  the,  Klat- 
tlK'ir  lal)oi*s,  all 
As  to  the  c'stab- 
oii,  and  during 
coniont. 

I  Oregon.  Un- 
ican  Jesuit,  two 
shop  of  Oregon, 
id  reached  Fort 
the  joy  of  the 

3nts.     After  at- 

s  met  in  June, 

iund,  who  had 

these,  he  con- 

II  of  instruction 
ious  truths  and 
mblems  for  fix- 
r  adopted,  and 
th  this  "  Scale" 

knowledge  of 
following  year 
ad  never  seen 

s  of  a  mission 
d  Wallawalla, 
so  visited  Nes- 
enewed  his  in- 

iious:  Demers 
et  planted  the 


cross  nt  Ncscjualy,  reconciled  two  waning  tribes,  baptized  many, 
and  for  a  (considerable  time  prolonjifcd  his  iiistructioris,  stimulated 
by  a  )'.!tter  from  de  Smet,  who,  hcii iiig  of  their  labors,  sent  to  an- 
nounce iiis  coming.  During  the  next  year  J)emei"s  j>enetrated  to 
Frazer's  River,  and  to  the  crowds  of  natives  aimounced  the  truths 
of  the  gospel.  Overjoyed  with  the  good  tidings,  all  ])res8ed  him 
to  stay  amongst  them,  and  oti'ered  their  children  for  baptism. 
Yielding  to  their  desire,  ho  baptized  no  less  than  seven  hun- 
dred. 

Such  wa5»,  in  tlio  year  1841,  the  state  of  tlio  two  Oregon  mis- 
sions, of  which  wo  shall  pursue  the  separate  history. 

Father  de  Smet,  in  the  spring  of  1841,  set  out  with  Father 
Nicholas  Point,  a  Vendean,  Father  Ciregory  Mengarini,  a  Roman, 
and  three  lay-brothers,  all  expert  mechanics.  I^eaving  Westport 
on  the  last  day  of  April,  they  passed  the  friendly  Kansas,  who 
still  remenibered  the  visits  of  La  Croix,  the  Sheyennes,  the  treach- 
erous Banacs  on  the  dangerous  La  I'latte,  then  the  less  reliable  Paw- 
nees, and  at  last,  on  the  15th  of  August,  met  at  Fort  Ilall  the 
Flathead  escort,  who  had  come  800  miles  to  join  the  missionaries. 
They  were  full  of  zeal  and  fervor.  Simon,  the  first  convert,  in- 
iirm  with  ago,  his  grandson  Francis,  Ignatius,  the  brave  Pilchimo, 
Francis,  and  Gabriel  the  half-breed.  I'he  fidelity  of  the  tribe  was 
confirmed  by  their  conduct.  Pushing  on  with  these,  the  mission- 
aries on  the  30th  came  in  siglit  of  the  camp  of  Bigface,  and  soon 
after  W9re  amid  their  children.  All  crowded  around  them — 
mothers  offered  their  children — every  heart  seemed  wild  with  joy.* 

The  tribe  wished  to  select  a  site  for  a  permanent  residence. 
Father  Point  drew  the  plans  foi*  the  mission  village,  on  which  all 
now  depended ;  and  on  the  24th  of  September  the  whole  party 
arrived  at  Bitter-root  River,  the  chosen  site.  Here  a  cross  was 
planted,  and  the  mission  of  St.  Mary's  begun  on  Rosaiy  Sunday. 


Sketches. 


•  Indian  Sketches,  lOfi. 


Is 


1 


472 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


The  lay-brothers  were  soon  at  work  :  the  panting  forge  and  clang 
ing  iiammer  ere  long  resounded,  and  the  house  of  prayer  began  to 
rise.     ]3efore  it  was  completed,  chiefs  of  the  Cceurs  d'Alenes  came 
to  beg  the  missionaries  to  have  pity  on  them,  and  visit  their  cabins 
to  announce  the  word  of  truth. 

The  P'latheads,  among  whom  their  chief  mission  now  lay,  are 
disinterested,  generous,  devoted  to  their  friends,  of  acknowledged 
probity  and  morality.  Their  dress  and  manners  were  equally 
modest :  no  superstitions  prevailed,  no  medicine-men  favored  the 
worehip  of  demons.  Many  chiefs  were  most  exemplary  men. 
Among  them,  Simon,  Peter,  and  especially  Paul,  were  eminent 
after  their  conversion  for  their  piety,  zeal,  and  purity  of  life. 

They  now  aided  their  missionaries  in  erecting  the  first  neces- 
sary buildings,  and  by  St.  Martin's  day  a  temporary  chapel  and 
residence  were  raised,  although  the  lay-brothers  had  few  and  in- 
sufficient tools.*  De  Smet  was,  meanwhile,  on  his  Avay  to  Colville, 
to  obtain,  if  possible,  a  supply  of  provisions,  leaving  Point  and 
Mengarini  to  instruct  the  catechumens  who  were  to  be  baptized 
on  the  3d  of  December,  when  two  hundred  and  two  became  by 
the  sacrament  children  of  God. 

The  rehabilitation  of  marriages  was  the  next  care.  Finding 
few  previously  contracted  valid,  they  conferred  the  sacrament  on 
all  the  baptized  couples :  where  polygamy  existed  one  wife  was  re- 
nounced, and  this  led  to  the  most  touching  scenes — as  the  hus- 
band hesitated  between  two  equally  dear,  both  mothers  of  his 
children.  In  several  cases  a  woman  would  generously  yield  in 
favor  of  one  more  loved  than  herself  The  village  was  now  Chris- 
tian, and  the  greatest  piety  prevailed.  At  the  sound  of  the  Ange- 
lus  in  the  morning  they  rose  from  sleep,  half  an  hour  later  they 
met  for  prayers,  then  heard  mass,  and  attended  instruction.  The 
day  was  given  to  labor ;  the  Fathers  visiting  the  sick  or  attending 

*  Indian  Sketches,  160, 178. 


rs. 

forge  and  clang 
'  prayer  began  to 
rs  d'Alenes  came 

visit  their  cabins 

ion  now  lay,  are 
)f  acknowledged 
rs  were  equally 
nen  favored  the 
exemplary  men. 
il,  were  eminent 
•ity  of  life, 
the  first  neces- 
ary  chapel  and 
lad  few  and  in- 
'  way  to  Colville, 
ving  Point  and 
3  to  be  baptized 
two  became  by 

are.  Finding 
le  sacrament  on 
3ne  wife  was  re- 
es — as  the  hus- 
mothei-s  of  his 
rously  yield  in 
was  now  Chris- 
id  of  the  Ange- 
our  later  they 
triiction.  The 
k  or  attending 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


473 


to  other  duties.  In  the  afternoon  the  children  were  catechized, 
and  after  sunset  another  'instruction  was  given  to  the  adults. 
Among  young  and  old  emulation  was  stimulated  by  little  rewards, 
which  to  us  might  seem  petty,  but  to  the  Flatheads,  as  to  the  old 
Huron  braves,  derived  their  \alue  from  religion  itself*  By  the 
8th  of  December  de  8met  returned,  having,  amid  much  danger  and 
hardship,  baptized  190  persons,  2G  of  them  adults,  of  various 
tribes,  Coeui-s  d'Alenes,  Kalispels,  Koetenays,f  and  preached  to 
over  two  thousand  Indians.  Unable  to  obtain  supplies,  the  tribe 
was  now  compelled  to  dispei-se  for  the  winter  hunt,  and  this  was 
deferred  only  to  allow  them  to  celebrate  Christmas  at  the  mission. 
On  that  day  one  hundred  and  fifteen  Flatheads  led  by  three  chiefs, 
thirty  Nczperces  and  their  chief,  a  Blackfoot  chief  and  his  family 
were  baptized.  "  I  began  my  masses,"  says  de  Smet,  "  at  seven  in 
the  morning :  at  five  in  the  afternoon  I  was  still  in  the  chapel. 
The  heart  may  conceive,  but  the  lips  cannot  express,  the  emotions 
which  I  then  experienced.  From  six  to  seven  hundred  new  Chris- 
tians, with  bands  of  little  children,  baptized  in  the  past  year,  all 
assembled  in  a  poor  chapel  covered  with  rushes,  in  the  midst  of  a 
desert  where  till  lately  the  name  of  God  was  scarcely  known,  of- 
feiing  to  their  Creator  their  regenerated  hearts,  protesting  that 
they  would  persevere  in  his  holy  service  till  death,  was  doubtless 
an  offering  most  agreeable  to  God,  and  which  we  trust  will  draw 
down  the  dews  of  heaven  upon  the  Flathead  nation  and  the  neigh- 
boring tribes." 
A  few  days  later  Father  Point  left  with  the  hunters  to  undergo 


*  Indian  Sketches,  148. 

t  In  the  Flatbow  and  Koetenay  the  Oiir  Father  runs :  "  Katitoe  naitlo 
naite,  akiklinais  zedabitskinne  wilkane.  Ninshallinc  oshemake  akaitlainiun. 
Insliazetlnlte  younoamake  yekaktiekinaitte.  Komnakaike  logcnie  nisr^rena- 
waislnie  nuioaacm  miaiteko.  Kekcpaitne  nekoctjekoetlcaitle  ixzeai,  iyakia- 
kakaaike  iyazeaikinawash  kokakipainien  aitle.  Amutikezawes  itchkeot 
shinimekak  kowelle  akataksen.  Shaeykiakakaaike." — De  Smet,  Oregon 
Miss.  409. 


474 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC    MISSIONS. 


tho  suft'erings  of  the  winter  chase,  and  peril  his  life  among  the 
Biackfeet.  De  Sniet  and  Mengaiiiii  remained  to  translate  the 
catechism,  and  })repare  one  hundred  and  iit'ty  for  their  tirst  com- 
munion, while  the  lay-brothers  ere(;ted  a  palisade  around  the  mis- 


sion.^ 


Soon  after,  de  Smet  resolved  to  visit  Fort  Vancouver,  in  hopes  of 
obtaining  the  supplies  necessary  to  make  St.  Mary's  a  fixed  mis- 
sion. On  his  way  he  visited  the  Koetenays,  Kalispels,  Coeurs 
d'Alenes,  Shuyelpis,  and  Okinakanes,  teaching  them  the  ordinaiy 
prayers  and  the  rudiments  of  faith,  and  instituting  among  all  the 
custom  of  morning  and  evening  prayer.  After  a  dangerous  pas- 
sage down  the  Columbia,  in  which  he  narrowly  escaped  a  watery 
grave,  and  saw  some  of  his  fellow-travellers  perish,  he  reached 
Fort  Vancouver.  Here  he  had  the  pleasure  of  conferring  with 
Messi-s.  Blanchet  and  Demers,  but  found  that  he  could  not  there 
obtain  the  necessary  supplies.  Returning  to  St.  Mary's,  he  resolved 
to  cross  the  wilderness  again  to  St.  Louis,  and  leaving  Mengarini 
with  the  Flatheads  and  Ponderas,  he  sent  Point  to  found  a  new 
mission  among  the  Coeurs  d'Alenes,  then  set  out  in  August,  bearing 
back  the  joyful  tidings  that  1654  souls  had  been  already  redeemed 
by  baptism.f 

At  the  close  of  the  hunting-season,  Father  Point  set  out,  and 
on  the  fii-st  Friday  of  December  planted  the  cross  of  his  new  mis- 
sion of  the  Sacred  Heart  among  the  Coeurs  d'Alenes.  Several 
years  before,  this  tribe,  hearing  the  Christian  doctrine,  had  re- 
nounced idolatry,  but  never  having  been  instructed,  fell  again  into 
the  superstitions  of  the  Indian  tribes.  Now  all  embraced  the 
truth.  The  medicine-men  were  the  first  to  destroy  the  objects  of 
idolatrous  reverence,  and  fervent  piety  was  soon  awakened. 

In  the  spring  a  new  village  was  laid  out;  trees  were  felled, 
roads  opened,  a  church  erected,  and  the  public  fields  sown.     Thus 


Indian  Sketches,  169. 


+  Id.  224. 


FRE^X"H   MISSIONS. 


476 


the  second  permanent  mission,  that  of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  tlie 
Coeurs  d'Alenes,  wiis  founded.  To  instruct  the  Indians  in  the  in- 
tervals of  tlie  cluuse  required  all  the  missionary's  care,  till  agricul- 
ture should  enable  them  to  be  stationary.  \\y  October,  1844,  the 
little  village  contained  one  hundred  Christian  families.* 

During  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  Blanchet  and  Demers, 
(jvertjusked  with  the  care  of  tlie  Canadians,  and  the  missions 
among  the  Indians,  were  gladdened  by  the  arrival  of  two  other 
priests  from  Canada,  Messi*s.  John  13.  Jiolduc  and  Anthony  Lang- 
lois.  Tliey  now  began  a  seminary  at  Willamette,  intending  to 
make  tliat  their  centre  for  missionary  excursions.  Ix'aving  the 
rest  engaged  in  the  new  works,  the  ardent  Jiolduc  set  out  in 
March,  1843,  to  visit  the  tribes  on  Vancouver's  Island  and  around 
Puget's  Sound,  and  baptized  many  of  the  Kawatskins,  Klalams, 
and  Isanisks.f 

On  arriving  at  St.  Louis,  de  Smet  laid  before  his  Superiors  the 
whole  prospect  of  the  country.  Immediate  action  was  taken. 
Oregon  was  then  a  territory  in  dispute  between  England  and  the 
United  States,  yet  the  American  prelates,  in  their  IVovincial  Coun- 
cil, solicited  the  Holy  See  to  appoint  a  Vicar-Apostolic.  Mean- 
while the  Provincial  of  the  Jesuits  in  Missouri  dispatched  Father 
Peter  de  Vos  and  Father  Adrian  Hoecken,  with  three  lay-brothers, 
to  the  mountains,  and  directed  de  Smet  to  proceed  to  Europe  to 
make  further  provision  for  the  conversion  and  civilization  of  the 
Indian  tribes. 

In  Europe  de  Smet  excited  the  greatest  enthusiasm  in  behalf  of 
his  work.  The  names  of  the  Oregon  tribes  became  more  familiar 
to  the  fiiithful  in  Belgium  and  France  than  in  the  United  States. 
Many  Fathers  of  his  order  wished  to  join  him,  and  the  Sisters  of 
the  Congregation  of  our  Lady  offered  to  proceed  to  the  distant 
wilderness  to  aid  the  missionaries  in  instructing  those  of  their  own 


*  Oregon  Missions,  280. 


t  Id.  51. 


i  i 


476 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


sex.  Having  obtained  considerable  relief,  be  at  last,  on  the  12th 
of  December,  1843,  sailed  from  Antwerp  with  Fathers  Vercruysse, 
Accolti,  Ravalli,  Nobili,  a  lay-brother,  and  six  Sisters  of  the  Con- 
gregation of  our  Lady,  and  after  a  long  and  dangerous  voyage, 
arrived,  to  the  joy  of  all,  at  Tort  Vancouver,  on  the  5th  of  August, 
1844,  having  been  long  given  up  as  lost.*  Mr.  Blanchet  soon 
arrived  (for  he  was  temporarily  absent),  and  hailed  with  joy  this 
new  accession  to  his  future  diocese.  To  relieve  the  Jesuit  mis- 
sionaries of  all  embarrassment,  lie  olTered  them  a  delightful  spot 
on  Willamette  River  for  their  central  mission,  and  here  they  at 
once  began  to  clear  the  ground  and  erect  buildings.  So  rapidly 
did  the  work  advance,  that  in  October  the  Sisters,  who  had  already 
begun  their  school  in  the  open  air,  took  possession  of  their  convent. 

Two  other  Italian  Fathers  and  a  lay -brother  now  joined  the  mis- 
sion. The  station  of  St.  Ignatius  was  begun  among  the  Kalispels 
by  F.  Hoecken  in  an  extensive  prairie,  thirty  miles  above  the  mouth 
of  Clark  River,  near  a  beautiful  cascade  encircled  by  snow-clad 
mountains.  Here,  in  their  winter  camp,  a  church  was  raised,  and 
the  missionary  began  his  labors,  consoled  by  the  fervor  and  docility 
of  his  flock.  On  Christmas  day  a  considerable  number  were  bap- 
tized by  Father  de  Smet,  who  celebrated  that  festival  there  with  all 
possible  pomp.f 

On  the  same  day.  Fathers  Mengarini  and  Zerbinati  among  the 
Flatheads,  and  Point  and  Joset  among  the  Coeurs  d'Alenes,  com- 
memorated the  nativity  of  our  Lord  with  similar  ceremonies  and 
consolations, — Joset  devoting  himself  to  render  them  agriculturists, 
Point  directing  the  mission.^ 

Ill  the  spring  the  Pends-d'oreilles  began  their  permanent  village 
of  St.  Ignatius,  and  by  the  month  of  July  had  fourteen  log-houses, 
300  acres  in  grain,  and  a  church  erecting,  with  a  steadily  increasing 
supply  of  poultry  and  cattle.§ 


*  Ann.  Prop.  xvii.  475,  note, 
t  Ann.  Prop,  xviii.  504,  xxi.  153. 


t  Oregon  Missions,  252. 

§  Oregon  Missions,  248,  259.  94. 


FKENCH   MISSIONS. 


477 


From  this  station,  Hoeckeu,  joined  by  Ravalli,  visited  the  Zin- 
gonienes,  Sinpoils,  Okenaganes,  Flatbows,  and  Koetenays.  l)e- 
niers  had  visited  the  tribes  of  New  Caledonia,  and  Nobili  now 
sot  out  in  June,  1845,  for  the  same  district ;  wiiile  tlie  Zingonienes, 
Sinpoils,  Okenaganes,  Flatbows,  anil  Koetenays,  were  to  be  evan- 
gelized from  St.  Ignatius.  Among  these  de  Sniet  now  began  a 
series  of  missions  extending  to  the  water-shed  of  the  Saskatshawan 
and  Columbia,  to  the  camp  of  the  wandering  Assiniboins  and 
Crees,  the  flock  of  Belcourt  and  Fort  St.  Anne,  the  station  of 
Thibault  and  Bourassa,  announcing  on  all  sides  the  good  tidings, 
and,  in  the  company  of  other  missionaries,  finding  new  incentives 
to  zeal.* 

During  his  absence,  the  laborious  Iloecken  had  completed  the 
conversion  of  the  Shuyelpi  or  Kettlefall  Indians ;  and  Nobili,  from 
Vancouver,  had  planted  the  cross  and  raised  chapels  among  the 
Sioushwaps,  Chilcotins,  and  other  northern  tribes. 

The  Oregon  mission  was  now  to  take  a  permanent  form.  The 
Holy  See,  listening  to  the  application  of  the  American  prelates,  had 
resolved  to  ere(;t  Oregon  into  a  Vicaiiate  ;  and  on  the  first  day  of 
December,  1843,  appointed  Mr.  Blanchet  Vicar-Apostolic.  On 
receiving  due  notification  of  his  election,  the  founder  of  the  Oregon 
church  proceeded  to  Montreal,  where  he  was  consecrated  on  the 
25th  of  July,  1845,  and  then  proceeded  to  Europe  to  obtain  as- 
sistance for  his  new  diocese.  There  a  change  was  made  in  the 
diocese ;  Blanchet  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  Metropolitan,  as  Arch- 
bishop of  Oregon  City,  and  several  suffragan  Sees  erected,  Demers 
being  appointed  Bishop  of  Vancouver,  and  Magloire  Blanchet, 
Bishop  of  Wallawalla. 


*  On  Jasper  Kiver  he  met  an  old  Iroquois  with  a  name  thtnous  in  the 
annals  of  the  old  missions,  Lonis  Kwaraghkwante — the  sun  that  walks — the 
Garaconti6  of  the  Kelations.  His  family,  to  the  number  of  forty-four,  whom 
he  had  instructed  in  their  prayers,  were  now  baptized,  and  seven  marriages 
renewed  and  blessed. 


j     i 

■;| 

i'^ 


[o 


.is    ! 


I: 


478 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC  MISSIONS. 


On  his  return  to  Oregon  Avith  several  priests,  secular  and  regular, 
including  some  Oblates,  who  now  joined  the  mission,  the  Chinooks 
were  converted  ;  and,  in  1851,  obtained  a  resident  pastor  in  Mr. 
Lionnet,  while  the  Kev.  John  B.  Brouillet  set  out  in  December, 
1847,  to  found  the  mission  of  St.  Ann  among  the  Cayuses,  then 
desolated  by  disease.  On  arriving,  however,  he  found  that  the 
Indians  had  risen  on  the  whites,  and  killed  Dr.  Whitman,  an 
American  missionary,  his  wife  and  ten  othere,  suspecting  them  of 
being  the  cause  of  the  pestilence.  Brouillet,  whose  well-known 
dress  protected  him,  hastened  to  the  next  Protestant  mission,  and, 
by  his  timely  warning,  saved  the  station  from  a  similar  fate.*  A 
war  ensued,  and  the  Cayuse  mission  was  deferred ;  but  the  Rev. 
Lewis  Rousseau  and  Toussaint  Mespleo  began  another  among  the 
Waskosin  in  June,  1848,  which  still  subsists.  Besides  these  secu- 
lar missions,  the  Jesuits  still  direct  the  Pointed  Heart,  Kettlefall, 
and  Kalispel  missions,  while  that  of  St.  Mary's  among  the  Flat- 
heads  has  been  vacant  since  1850.  The  whole  number  of  Catholic 
Indians  is  now  estimtated  at  3400,  but  the  missions  have  not  the 
same  advantages  for  schools  as  those  in  the  Vicariate  of  Indian 
Territory.!     Of  the  effect  produced  by  the  missions  we  may  judge 


*  U.  S.  Cath.  Mag.  vii.  490. 

t  To  complete  our  specimens  of  the  languages  of  the  Indian  tribes  where 
our  missions  have  existed,  we  annex  the  Pater  in  Assiniboin  : 

Tuchiachttoobe  machpiachta  yaeoenshi  baoninshi  nabishi  metshalzilzl, 
nitanwiadezi  ekty  yaegnizi,  yetshoeszizi  aittshaiszi  lenmachkoetzizi  aseett- 
shaiszi  machpiachta.  Tnkoera  nangaah  oczoezandie  innimbechain.  Ezieya- 
kink  taniozeni  etchoengoebezie  sinkirabishnitshaa  ektas  etchoengoebezie. 
Youoechtontjen  tanniaesni  etchoem  goebishniet  tchain,  napeen  giettshioenn 
ingninnacge.    Eetchees. 

And  also  in  Blackfoot : 

Kinnna  spocgsts  tzittapigpi  kitzinnekazen  kagkakomimokzin.  Nagkita- 
piwatog  neto  kinyokizip.  Kitzizigtacn  nejakupestoeta  tzagkom,  nietziewae 
ppoegsts.  Ikogkiowa  ennoch  matogkivitapi.  Istapikistomokit  nagzikamoot 
komonetziewae  nistovva.  Nagkezis  tapi  kestemoog  Spemmook  mateakoziep 
makapi.     Kamoemanigtoep. 

Of  the  nussiouaries  employed  in  the  Missouri  and  Oregon  missions  most 


w  w 


rs. 


FRENCH   MISSIONS. 


479 


cular  and  regular, 
don,  the  Chinooks 
int  pastor  in  Mi', 
lit  in  December, 
the  Cayuses,  then 
le  found  that  the 
Dr.  Whitman,  an 
Lispecting  them  of 
k'hose  well-known 
tant  mission,  and, 
similar  fate.*  A 
red ;  but  the  Rev. 
iiother  among  the 
besides  these  secu- 
Heart,  KettlefoU, 
among  the  Flat- 
umber  of  Catholic 
ons  have  not  the 
icariate  of  Indian 
ms  we  may  judge 


from  the  instructions  of  Stevens,  governor  of  Washington  'l\Miitoi  y, 
to  the  Indian  Agent.  "  Vou  undei-stand  well  the  general  charjictor 
of  the  Flatheads — the  best  Indians  of  the  mour'nins  or  the  plains 
— honest,  brave,  docile — they  need  only  encourawoinent  to  become 
good  citizens.  They  are  Christians,  and  we  are  assured  by  good 
Father  de  Smets  they  live  up  to  the  Christian  code."* 

nro  still  alivo  ;  but  wc  add  iiotioes  of  two  who  died  in  tlie  inidst  of  their  labor.-i. 
Father  Peter  Zerbinati  was  of  tiio  Koinuii  province  of  the  Society  of  .Jesus, 
sent  to  Oregon  in  1843,  and  reached  the  Flathead  mission  in  September, 
1844.  Applying  himself  to  the  study  of  the  language,  ho  was  soon  a  zealous 
catechist;  but  in  the  spring  of  1845  he  was  accidentally  drowned.  An 
humble  monument  was  raised  in  the  cemetery  to  this  lirst  missionary  wiio 
died  in  the  Kocky  Mountains. — NbU  of  F.  de  Smet.  Father  Christian 
Iloccken  was  a  native  of  Upper  Brabant,  who  had  been  fifteen  years  among 
the  Indians,  died  of  cholera  in  the  arms  of  Father  do  Smet,  on  board  of  the 
St.  Ange,  while  ascending  the  Missouri  on  the  19th  of  June,  1851,  twelve 
days  after  leaving  St.  Louis,  and  was  interred  at  the  mouth  of  the  Little 
Sciouse.  lie  was  a  perfect  master  of  the  Indian  languages  and  customs,  and 
consequently  was  highly  esteemed  by  them.  In  fact,  he  lived  oniy  for  the 
Ked-man,  and  full  of  patience,  piety,  simplicity,  and  equanimity,  was  emi- 
nently fitted  for  his  post.  It  would  be  impossible  to  find  a  more  apostolic 
missionary,  and  we  are  convinced  that  the  illustrious  Society  to  which  he 
belonged  did  not  number  among  its  children  a  more  faithful  or  fervent  re- 
ligious. De  Smet ;  Voyage  au  Grand  Desert,  20. 
*  President's  Message,  1854,  p.  463. 


Indian  tribes  where 

boin : 

abishi  metshalzilzl, 

achkoetzizi  aseett- 

mbechain.    Ezieya- 

s  etchoengoebezle. 

apeen  giettshioenu 


Imokzin.  Nagklta- 
Izagkom,  nietziewae 
Imokit  nagzikamoot 
^mook  mateakoziep 


fcgon  missions  most 


[ 


THE  ENGLISH  MISSIONS. 


CHAPTER    I. 


THE    MARYLAND    MISSION. 


Goneral  Indifference  of  English  to  salvation  of  Iniliaiis — Lord  Baltimore— C-atiiolic 
cmlf;ratlon — Jesuit  inisslonarU'S— Father  Andrew  White  and  his  companions — Al- 
tliiun  at  Piscataway — Wliite  at  St.  Mary's— Tlio  tribes  of  Maryland— Lant'uii^'e,  dresa, 
religion— Pliilokifrical  labors  of  the  Jesuits— White  at  Mattapany — Maquacomen,  and 
bis  inconstancy — Conversion  of  Chiloinacon,  I;inj,'  of  I'lNcataway— His  baptism — Death 
of  Althani — Illness  of  White — Death  of  Ilrock— Fatln-r  IJigby— Tiio  Susquehanna 
war — Attack  on  n  missionary  station— Keported  death  of  a  Father — Life  on  the 
mission — Wonderful  cure — Uuin  of  the  niisulon — Tlio  Fatlicr  seized  and  sent  to  Eng- 
land—Ineffectual attempts  to  renew  the  Indian  mission. 

Missions  among  the  Indian  tiihcs,  ett'oits  t(j  Clu'Istianizo  and 
civilize  the  red-man,  were,  as  we  have  seen,  coeval  with  all  the 
attempts  of  Spain  and  Fran(;e  to  plant  colonies  in  Amenca.  At 
a  later  date,  England,  Holland,  and  Sweden  began  to  form  settle- 
ments on  the  Atlantic  coasts.  With  one  solitary  exception,  these 
colonies  were  Protestant,  and  in  them,  with  that  single  exception, 
we  look  in  vain  for  the  same  spirit  of  faith  and  charity,  the  same 
desire  of  extending  to  the  natives  the  benefits  of  Christianity, 
which  characterized  the  Catbplic  powers. 

The  eflforts  made  were  purely  individual ;  they  were  isolated 
and  unsupported ;  they  did  not  spring  from  any  public  opinion  as 
to  their  necessity,  and  they  were  necessanly  evanescent.  Indeed 
it  was  not  till  the  mid^Ue  of  the  last  century  that  any  general  plan 
was  adopted  in  England  for  evangelizing  the  heathen,  and  then 
revolutions  soon  neutralized  the  tardv  effort. 


484 


AMERICAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


1:1 

C 


Amid  the  English  colonies,  one  wns  founded  by  Catholics,  and, 
strange  contrast,  here  Indian  missions  are  coeval  with  the  coloniza- 
tion. A  few  years  since  the  Indian  missions  of  Maryland,  with 
most  of  the  details  of  their  fiist  years,  were  shroudeil  in  mystery. 
Fortunately,  however,  a  recent  discovery  in  the  archives  of  the 
Society  of  Jesus  enables  us  to  trace  them  till  their  dose.* 

Lord  ]5altimore  returning  to  the  faith  of  his  anc-estors,  resolved 
to  found  a  Catholic  colony  in  America.  The  Catholics  of  the 
Bntish  isles  clung  almost  as  tenaciously  to  their  native  lan#as 
they  did  to  their  religion.  Still,  unable  openly  to  profess  the  faith 
of  Bede,  of  Alfred,  of  Edward,  of  Becket,  and  of  Anselm,  of  thirty 
generations  of  their  ancestors,  a  few  resolved  to  emigrate,  and  oc- 
cupy the  territory  of  which  Lord  Baltimore  had  secured  a  grant. 
Mindful  of  his  duty  as  a  Christian,  the  Catholic  peer  resolved  to 
send  clergymen  to  his  colony,  and  applied  to  the  Superior  of  the 
Jesuits  in  England  for  Fathers  of  his  society  "to  attend  the  Cath- 
olic planters  and  settlers,  and  convert  the  native  Indians."  The 
conversion  of  the  heathen  could  not  be  a  matter  of  inditierence  to 
the  Society  of  Jesus,  and  least  of  all  that  of  the  natives  of  a  region 
already  watered  with  their  blood.  They  did  not  refuse  the  call. 
Father  Andrew  White,  a  man  who  had  already  suftered  imprison- 
ment and  exile  for  the  faith,  was  chosen  to  found  the  new  mission. 
His  associates  were  Father  John  Altham  and  the  lay-brothers, 
John  Knowles  and  Thomas  Gervase. 

The  settlers,  thus  attended,  at  last  set  sail  from  England  in  the 


*  This  istbo  "  Relatio  Itineris,"  or  Journalof  Father  Andrew  White,  copied 
at  Rome  by  Father  William  McSherry,  of  Virginia,  and  published  by  Force 
in  his  Historical  Collections,  vol.  iv.  He  is  our  authority,  with  Oliver's 
Collections  towards  illustrating  the  Biography  of  the  Scotch,  English,  and 
Irish  membcrg  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  and  Tanner's  Gesta  praeclara.  White's 
narrative  is  freely  used  by  Campbell,  Historical  Sketch  of  tiie  Early  Christian 
Missions  among  the  Indians  of  Maryland  ;  Burnap,  Life  of  Calvert ;  and  by 
McSherry  in  his  History  of  Maryland.  From  all  these  much  incidental  in., 
formation  has  been  derived. 


Catholics,  and, 
til  the  coloniza- 
Mai  viand,  with 
led  in  mystery. 
Eirchives  of  the 
t;lose.* 

;estors,  resolved 
'atholios  of  the 
native  lan#as 
profess  the  faith 
iselm,  of  thirty 
ligrate,  and  oc- 
■lecured  a  grant. 
:>eer  resolved  to 
Superior  of  the 
ittend  the  Cath- 
Indians."     The 

indifierence  to 
ives  of  a  region 

ofuse  the  call. 

fered  imprison- 

le  new  mission, 
le  lay-brothers, 


England  in  the 


row  White,  copied 
iblished  by  Force 
•ity,  with  Oliver's 
tch,  English,  and 
raeclarii.  White's 
le  Early  Christian 
['  Calvert ;  and  by 
ch  incidental  in- 


ENGLISH    MISSIONS. 


4s5 


Ark  and  Dove,  on  the  22d  of  Novomber,  1033,  choosing  St.  Igna- 
tius as  patron  of  Maryland,  and  placing  their  voyage  under  his  pro- 
tection, that  of  the  Gu.'idian  Angels  of  Maryland,  and  espe(;ially 
of  the  Innnaculate  Conception.  Exiles  as  they  were  for  conscience' 
sake,  they  bore  no  revengeful  feeling  to  the  Anglican  (Jhurch, 
which  pei-secuted  as  it  had  robbed  them:  none  to  the  Calvinistic 
party,  which  sought  to  exterminate  them.  They  came,  and  as 
they  came  let  the  broad  Atlantic  wash  out  the  memory  of  their 
wrongs;  they  came  to  found  the  tirst State  where  men  could  freely 
practise  the  religion  of  their  choice. 

After  touchinir  at  the  West  Inilies,  thev  arrived  on  the  3d  of 
March  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  on  the  feast  of  the 
Annunciation,  which  England  has  not  yetHorgotten  to  call  Lady- 
day,  FatJier  White  landed  on  St.  Clement's  Island*  to  ofler  up 
the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  mass ;  then  raising  a  cross  as  a  trophy  to 
Christ  the  Saviour,  they  humbly  chanted,  on  bended  knees,  and 
with  deep  devotion,  the  Litany  of  the  Cross. 

Thus  did  Catholicity  j)lant  her  standard  once  more  on  the 
Chesapeake,  and  claim  the  land  for  Mary.  The  conversion  of  the 
natives  Wius  the  first  thoui»"ht  of  the  devoted  missionaries.  Those 
at  St.  Clement's  Isle  were  friendly,  and  White  at  once  entered 
into  relations  with  them  to  see  what  ground  was  to  be  the  lot  of 
the  missionary — whether  the  barely  covered  rock,  the  way-side,  or 
the  fertile  field. 

Meanwhile,  and  before  the  site  ot  the  new  settlement  was  deter- 
mined upon.  Father  Altham  accompanied  Governor  Calvert  in  his 
voyage  of  exploration  up  the  Potomac  River,  and  with  him  visited 
the  great  chief  of  Piscataway,  who  is  represented  as  superior  to 
the  other  chiefs,  and  is  sometimes  stvled  emperor.     The  governor 


and  his  exploring  party  first  landed  on  the  Virginia  side  of  the 
river,  where  the  natives  received  them  kindly.     Here  Father  Al- 


t  Now  BlftckBtono's  Island. —  Campbell. 


480 


AMERICAN   CATIIOIJC    MISSIONS. 


'  i  \ 


I 


ri 


tham  explaiiiod  to  tlioni  the  (loctriuea  of  the  Christian  religion  by 
means  of  an  intorprctoi'.  The  regvnt-chieftain  Archihu  heard  liim 
with  pleasnre,  and  eainestly  besouglit  him  to  remain.  "  We  will 
use  one  table,"  said  the  chief;  "my  servants  will  hunt  for  you,  and 
all  things  shall  be  in  common  between  us."  After  proceeding  to 
the  residence  of  the  J^iscataway  cbief,  however,  the  whole  party 
returned  to  St.  Clement's  Island,  and  purchasing  a  site  from  the 
friendly  Yoacomico  and  his  tribe,  founded  the  city  of  St.  Mary\s. 
(Obtaining  a  wigwam  from  {» native,  the  missionaries  immediately 
fitted  it  up  as  a  chapel — the  first  in  the  land.  The  conversion  of 
the  Indians  being  the  great  object  of  their  zeal,  they  without  delay 
began  to  study  their  language,  manners,  and  customs. 

The  Maryland  trib?s  consiste<l  of  sevend  branches  of  the  great 
Huron-Iroquois  family,  and,  doubtless,  of  some  Algonquins,  although 
it  is  not  easy  in  all  cases  to  decide  to  which  class  a  tribe  is  to  be 
referred.  The  most  powerful  were  the  Susquehannas,  the  An- 
dastes  or  Gainlastogues  of  the  French,  the  Minquas  of  the  Swedes, 
known  in  later  annals  as  the  Conestogues.*  On  the  Western  Shore 
the  Patuxeuts,  Piscataways,  Anacostans,  and  Yaocomicos,  seem  to 
belong  to  the  same  great  family,  while  the  tribes  of  the  Eastern 
Shore,  the  Nanticokes,  Ozinies,  Toglnvocks,  Atcjuinachunks,  and 
Wycomesses,  were  of  the  Algic  stock.f 

The  Susquehannas,  or  Conestogues,  were  the  dominant  tribe ; 
the  Algonquins  their  allies,  the  other  tribes  their  enemies  or  vic- 
tims. Among  these  last  the  Catholic  missionaries  now  began  their 
labors,  and  during  their  short  career  in  the  field  evangelized  chiefly 
the  Piscataways  and  Patuxents.  From  the  few  words  found  in  the 
narrative  of  Father  White,  the  language  was  evidently  a  Huron 
dialect,  and  the  English  Fathers  would  have  derived  no  little  aid 
from  the  catechism  of  Father  Brebeuf,  then  just  published  at  Paris; 
but  of  his  labors  they  were  probably  unaware,  and  Father  White, 


*  Compare  McSherry,  History  of  Maryland,  89 ;  Cainpanius;  Rel.  1642; 
Pennsylvania  Annals.  t  McSherry,  History  of  Maryland,  62. 


ill 


KN(JJJSH   MISSIONS. 


48; 


itian  religion  by 
:hihu  heard  him 
ain.  "  We  will 
unt  for  you,  and 
Ljr  proceeding  to 
the  whole  party 
•  a  site  from  the 
:y  of  St.  Mary's, 
ies  immediately 
he  conversion  of 
}y  without  delay 
ms. 

lies  of  the  great 
nquina,  although 
s  a  tnbe  is  to  be 
lannas,  the  An- 
is  of  the  Swedes, 
3  AVestern  Shore 
jomicos,  seem  to 
!8  of  the  Eastern 
linachunks,  and 

lominant  tribe ; 
enemies  or  vie- 
now  began  their 
ngelized  chiefly 
rds  found  in  the 
ently  a  Huron 
ed  no  little  aid 
lished  at  Paris; 
Father  White, 

anius;  Bel.  1642; 
Maryland,  62. 


V 


devoting  himself  t-  the  study  of  the  language,  soon  compiled  a 
grammar,  dictionary,  and  catechism  in  the  I'iscataway  language,* 
while  Kigbie,  at  a  later  i)eriod,  compiled  a  catechism  for  the  Pa- 
tuxents.f  Of  these  valuable  works  a  catechism  still  exists  in  the 
archives  at  Rome,  and  was  seen  by  Father  McSherry,  when  he  tlis- 
covered  the  precious  Relation  of  Father  \Vhite.| 

In  dress,  the  Indians  of  Marvland  resembled  the  tribes  around 
them;  the  breech-cloth  or  ])etticoat,  with  the  cloak  or  mantle, 
being  their  chief  attire,  and  from  their  vicinity  to  the  English  and 
Swedes,  many  had  P]uropean  articles. 

Their  wigwams  bore  more  resemblance  to  those  of  the  Iroquois 
than  to  those  of  the  Algonquin  tribes.  Oblong  or  oval,  they  were 
api)arently  of  bark,  with  the  opening  above  alike  for  chimney  and 
window.  The  fire  occupied  the  centre,  and  beside  it,  in  better 
cabins,  was  a  sort  of  shelf  made  of  long  poles  and  slightly  raised 
from  the  ground.  They  were,  too,  generally  from  eight  to  ten  feet 
high,  so  that  the  occupants  were  not  compelled  to  crouch,  as  was 
sometimes  the  case. 

Their  morals  were  pure,  and  their  desire  of  improvement  great ; 
their  religion  such  as  we  have  found  it  in  all  other  parts.  Recog- 
nizing a  God  of  heaven,  they  paid  him  no  external  worship,  but 
endeavored  to  propitiate  a  certain  spirit  which  they  called  Okee.§ 
Like  the  Iroquois,  they  worshipped  corn  as  a  deity  wonderfully 
beneficent  to  the  human  race,  and  paid  the  same  honors  to  fire. 

"  Some  of  our  people,"  says  Father  White,  "  relate  that  they  have 
seen  this  ceremony  in  a  temple  at  Barcluxen.  On  an  appointed 
day  all  the  men  and  women,  of  all  ages,  from  many  villages,  as- 
sembled around  a  great  fire.  Next  to  the  fire  stood  the  young 
people ;  behind  them  those  more  advanced  in  life.     A  piece  of 


*  Oliver,  Collections,  art.  White.  t  "White,  in  Force. 

X  Campbell,  Early  Christian  Missions. 

§  This  word  is  Huron-Iroquois.    Lafitau,  i.  115;  Rel.  1636  (Brobonf's 
Huron  part,  96). 


488 


AMEIilOAN   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


h 


■^ 


^^ 


It 


deer's  fat  being  then  thrown  into  the  lire,  aiul  hands  and  voices 
being  lifted  towards  heiiven,  they  cried  out,  'Taho!  tahoT  Then 
they  cleared  a  small  space,  .and  some  one  produced  a  large  bag; 
in  the  bag  were  a  pipe  and  a  kind  of  powder,  which  they  call 
Potu.  Then  the  bag  was  carried  around  the  fire,  the  boys  and 
girls  singing 'Taho!  taho!'  After  this  the  Potu  was  taken  from 
the  pouch  and  distributed  to  those  standing  around,  who  smoked 
it  successively,  fumigating  his  body  as  if  to  sanctify  it."* 

Such  was  the  supei*stition  which  Father  White  and  his  com- 
panions were  here  to  overthrow.  The  power  of  Sjitan  was  to  be 
prostrated;  but  like  the  strong  man  armed,  he  battled  for  his 
stronghold,  and  difficulties  soon  embarrassed  the  missionaries. 

In  1635,  Claiborne,  the  evil  genius  of  Maryland,  excited  the 
natives  against  the  settlers,  and  circulated  calumnies  against  the 
missionaries.  Still  the  Jesuits  were  undaunted.  Another  priest 
reached  them  in  that  year,  and  still  another  in  1636.  Though 
some  sank  under  the  climate,  they  still  carried  on  the  work  vigor- 
ously among  the  Indians  around  St.  Mary's.  Father  White,  as 
soon  as  he  had  acquired  some  knowledge  of  the  language,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  town  of  Mattapany,  on  the  banks  of  the  Patuxent, 
where  the  friendly  chieftain  Maquacomen  luled  a  populous  tribe. 
A  strip  of  ground  was  allotted  to  the  missionary ;  and  raising  his 
bark  chapel,  he  began  his  ministry.  The  chief,  though  friendly, 
showed  little  inclination  to  embrace  the  faith,  or  gave  but  momen- 
tary gleams  of  hope.  His  people  were  more  docile :  yielding  to 
the  instructions  of  the  good  missionary,  six  adults  were  baptized, 
and  a  native  church  established.  Then  the  baptism  of  infants, 
and  especially  of  the  dying,  added  to  the  numbers  of  the  elect. 
While  exulting  in  the  prospect  now  open  before  him.  Father  White 
was  recalled  to  St.  Mary's  by  the  governor,  on  a  rumor  of  war. 

In  1639,  however,  the  cloud  cleared  away,  the  epidemics  which 


*  White,  in  Force,  p.  23 ;  Burnap,  74. 


Li 


laiuls  and  voices 
)!  taliol'  Then 
ced  a  large  bag; 
which  they  call 
•e,  the  boys  and 
L  was  taken  from 
lid,  who  smoked 
fy  it."* 

te  and  his  com- 
Satan  was  to  be 
3  battled  for  his 
missionaries, 
land,  excited  the 
mies  against  the 
Another  priest 
1636.     Though 
1  the  work  vigor- 
Father  White,  as 
le  language,  pro- 
of the  Patuxent, 
a  populous  tribe, 
and  raising  his 
hough  friendly, 
fave  but  momen- 
cile :  yielding  to 
s  were  baptized, 
)tism  of  infants, 
rs  of  the  elect, 
n.  Father  White 
umor  of  war. 
epidemics  whioh 


ENGLISH    MISSIONS. 


489 


had  ravaged  the  colony  ceased,  and  the  Indians  Ijecame  friendly. 
White,  Altham,  with  John  Jiroek,  the  Superior,  and  riiilip  Fislior, 
"settled  in  places  widely  distant,  hoping  thus  to  acquire  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  neighboring  idiom,  and  consequently  spread  more 
widely  the  truths  of  the  holy  gospel." 

Brock  took  post  at  Mattapany,  where  White  had  begun  his 
labors ;  Altham  on  Kent  Island ;  Fisher  remained  at  St.  Mary's, 
and  White,  in  June,  1639,  reached  Kittamaquindi,  to  preach  the 
gospel  to  the  Piscataways.*  The  king  or  tayac^  Chilomacon,  who 
exercised  a  sovereign  sway  over  several  petty  chiefs,  received 
Father  White  with  great  cordiality,  and  installed  him  in  his  own 
lodge.  The  missionary  immediately  began  to  announce  the  truth, 
explaining  to  the  prince  and  his  family,  as  well  as  to  the  braves  of 
the  tribe,  the  glorious  dogmas  of  Chiistianity.  His  words  impressed 
them  deeply.  At  his  suggestion,  they  became  more  modest  in 
dress,  and  Chilomacon  renounced  all  but  one  wife.  So  thoroughly 
was  the  Piscataway  chief  imbued  with  a  sense  of  the  importance 
of  Christianity,  that  when  the  governor  adduced  commercial  rea- 
sons for  an  alliance,  he  declared  "  that  he  esteemed  such  considera- 
tions lightly,  compared  with  the  treasure  bestowed  by  the  Fathere — 
the  knowledge  of  the  true  God ;  a  knowledge  then  and  ever  to  be 
the  chief  object  of  his  wishes." 

At  a  general  council  of  his  tribe,  when  several  of  the  settlers 
were  presei":  \  he  avowed  his  detemiination,  and  that  of  his  family, 
to  renounce  their  ancient  superstitions,  and  pay  homage  to  Christ, 
declaring  that  there  was  no  tme  God  but  that  of  the  Christians, 
nor  any  other  name  by  which  the  immortal  soul  could  be  saved 
from  rain.  Accompanying  Father  White  on  a  visit  to  St.  Mary's, 
his  piety  edified  all,  and  he  in  turn  witnessed  with  wonder  the 

*  The  Relation  has  Pascatoe,  which  Burnap  thinks  must  be  Patapsco ; 
but  he  forgets  that  Father  White  wrote  in  Latin,  and  that  the  last  two 
letters  correspond  to  the  English  "  oway."  Campbell  calls  them  the  Piscat- 
oways,  and  he  is  undoubtedly  right.    See  McSherry,  Hist,  of  Maryland,  48. 

21* 


490 


AMERICAN  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


I  ' 


>    i    I 


^^• 


! 


!  M, 


h 


zeal  of  the  Fathers  in  attending  an  Indian  condemned  to  die  for 
murder.  In  the  capital  of  Maryhmd  he  solicited  baptism,  and  the 
missionary  could  not  refuse  him  the  sacraments  of  regeneiation. 
Anxious,  however,  to  avail  himself  of  its  eftect  on  the  tribe,  he  de- 
ferred it  till  their  return  to  Kittamaquindi,  the  site  of  the  modern 
Piscataway.  Then  in  the  bark  chapel  of  the  town,  on  the  6th  of 
July,  1C40,  Father  White,  in  the  presence  of  Altham  and  the 
governor,  with  many  colon'al  officers,  who  had  threaded  the  wil- 
derness to  assist  at  so  important  a  ceremony,  baptized  Chilomacon 
by  the  name  of  Charles,  and  conferred  the  same  happiness  on  his 
wife  Mary,  and  infant  daughter  Ann.  Mosorcoques,  the  chief 
counsellor  of  the  king,  with  his  son,  were  also  baptized  on  that 
day  so  full  of  hope  and  triumph  for  the  Mai-yland  tribes.*  The 
afternoon  witnessed  more  imposing  ceremonies.  The  tayac  and 
his  wife  were  united  in  the  bonds  of  marriage  by  the  sacrament  of 
matrimony,  and  then  the  governor  and  his  officei's,  with  the  tayac 
and  his  chiefs,  bore  to  its  destined  spot  a  large  cross,  which  was 
soon  planted  by  the  Fathei-s,  who  had  led  the  way,  chanting  the 
Litany  of  the  Blessed  Virgin.f 

Before  the  missionaries  could  follow  up  this  success,  both  were 
seized  with  a  dangerous  illness,  contracted  that  veiy  day.  Father 
Altham  soon  after  died,  on  the  5th  of  November ;  and  White,  now 
thoroughly  versed  in  the  language  and  manners  of  the  people,  was 
rendered  unable  to  perform  any  missionary  duty.  He  was  not 
idle,  however ;  he  revised  and  compiled  the  grammar,  dictionary, 
and  catechism,  in  the  language  of  his  flock,  to  aid  his  successor  in 
the  mission. 

In  this  position  White  called  on  his  brethren  in  Europe.  "  Those 
who  are  sent,"  he  says  encouragingly,  "  need  not  fear  lest  means  of 
support  be  wanting,  for  He  who  clothes  the  lilies  and  feeds  the 

*  There  is  a  curious  cut  of  this  baptism  in  Tanner's  Gesta  prseclara,  \>. 
808,  art.  Andreas  Vitus, 
t  White,  in  Force,  85 ;  Bnrnap,  96. 


rs. 

lemned  to  die  for 
baptism,  and  the 

of  regeneiation. 

the  tribe,  he  de- 
te  of  the  modern 
vn,  on  the  6th  of 
Vltliam  and  the 
:hreaded  the  wil- 
ized  Chilomacou 
happiness  on  his 
oques,  the  chief 
)aptized  on  tliat 
id  tribes.*     The 

The  tayac  and 
the  sacrament  of 
?,  with  the  tayac 
cross,  which  was 
ay,  clianting  the 

ccess,  both  were 
y  day.  Father 
and  White,  now 

the  people,  was 
He  was  not 
mar,  dictionary, 

his  successor  in 

lurope.    "Those 

ar  lest  means  of 

and  feeds  the 

ireata  prseclara,  p. 


ENGLISH    MISSIONS. 


491 


birds  of  the  air,  will  not  sutler  those  who  are  laboring  to  extend 
his  kingdom  to  be  destitute  of  necessary  sustenauce." 

Chilomacou  died  the  next  year  in  sentiments  of  great  piety;  but 
Mosorcoques  still  upheld  the  faith,  and  iuduced  Anacostan,  a 
neighboring  prince,  to  iuNite  the  missionaries  to  his  tribe.  The 
.Jesuits  were,  however,  sinking  under  the  climate  and  toil.  Brock 
exclaimed,  "For  my  part,  I  would  rather,  laboring  in  the  conver- 
sion of  these  Indians,  expire  on  the  bare  ground,  deprived  of  all 
human  succor,  and  perishing  from  hunger,  than  once  Lhink  of 
abandoning  this  holy  work  of  God  from  the  fear  of  want."  And 
five  weeks  after  this  noble  declaration  he  died  as  he  had  chosen.* 

The  English  Jesuits  in  Europe,  on  hearing  of  the  state  of  the 
mission,  its  difficulties,  dangers,  and  prospects,  were  inflamed  with 
a  holy  zeal  to  join  their  brethren  in  Maiyland;  and  many,  in  most 
urgent  letters,  besought  their  Superiors  to  send  them  to  Maiyland.f 

Several  obtained  their  wish ;  among  them  Roger  Rigbie,  sta- 
tioned in  1642  at  Patuxent,  where,  speedily  acquiring  the  lan- 
guage, he  composed  a  catechism  in  it.  AVhite,  who  remained  at 
Piscataway  till  1642,  was  caught  in  th*^  ice,  and  proceeding  to 
Potomac  town,  began  a  mission.  During  a  stay  of  over  two 
months,  he  increased  the  church  there  by  the  conversion  of  the  chief 
and  several  of  the  tribe  of  the  Potomacs,  as  well  as  of  three  chiefe 
and  many  braves  of  other  tribes. 

A  war  now  broke  out,  and  the  StISquehannas,  Wycomesses,  and 
Nanticokes,  poured  down  on  Maryland  and  its  allies.  They  at-' 
tacked  a  settlement,  apparently  of  the  missionaries,  massacred  the 
people,  and  carried  otF  the  spoil.  In  New  York  the  rescued 
Jogues  heard  of  the  war,  and  learned  that  one  of  the  Jesuit 
Fathers  had  fallen  amid  his  neophytes.J 


*  Father  John  Brock's  red  name  was  Morgan.    He  died  June  5,  1641. 
+  Mr.  Campbell  had  no  less  than  twenty-three  of  these  letters  in  his  hands, 
hU  bearing  date  in  July  and  August,  1640. 
J  Bnrnap,  p.  193 ;  Buteux,  Narr^,  &o.  MS. 


492 


AMKKIOAN    CATHOLIC   MISSIONS. 


II.  I 


Piscataway  was  now  constantly  exposed  to  attacks  from  the 
enemy ;  and  as  tlie  younnr  queen,  who  liad  been  educated  in  the 
colony,  had  been  baptized,  the  mission  was  reiiKned  to  I'otopaco, 
where  the  young  queen,  the  wife,  and  two  chiMien  of  the  former 
chief,  and  130  of  the  people,  almost  the  whole  tribe,  embraced 
Christianity.  In  the  same  year  the  missionaries  made  several  ex- 
cuixions  up  the  Patuxent  Kiver,  and  in  other  parts,  the  war  ren- 
dering this  the  safest  and  best  means.  Their  life  is  thus  described 
by  one  of  tliemselves : 

"  We  sail  in  an  open  boat — the  Father,  an  interpreter,  and  ser- 
vant. In  a  calm,  or  with  a  head-wind,  two  row  and  the  third 
steers  the  boat.  Wo  carry  a  basket  of  bread,  cheese,  butter,  dned 
roasting  ears  of  corn,  beans,  and  some  meal,  and  a  chest  con- 
taining the  sacerdotal  vestments,  the  slab  or  altar  for  mass,  the 
wine  used  in  the  holy  sacrifice,  and  blessed  baptismal  water.  In 
another  chest  wo  carry  knives,  combs,  little  bells,  fishing-hooks, 
needles,  thread — and  other  trifles,  for  presents  to  the  Indians.  We 
take  two  mats,  a  small  one  to  shelter  us  froin  the  sun,  and  a  larger 
one  to  protect  us  from  the  rain.  The  servant  carries  implements 
for  hunting  and  cooking  utensils.  We  endeavor  to  reach  some 
Indian  village  or  English  plantation  by  nightfall.  If  we  do  not 
succeed,  then  the  Father  secures  our  boat  to  the  bank,  collects 
wood,  and  makes  a  fire,  while  the  other  two  go  out  to  hunt :  and 
after  cooking  our  game,  we  fflke  some  refreshment,  and  then  lie 
down  to  sleep  around  the  fire.  When  threatened  with  rain,  we 
erect  a  tent,  covering  it  with  our  large  mat.  Thanks  be  to  God, 
we  enjoy  our  scanty  fare  and  hard  beds  as  much  as  if  we  were  ac- 
commodated with  the  luxuiies  of  Europe;  with  this  present  comfort, 
that  God  now  imparts  to  us  a  foretaste  of  what  he  is  about  to  give 
to  those  that  live  faithfully  in  this  life,  and  mitigating  all  hardship 
with  a  degree  of  pleasantness ;  so  that  his  Divine  Majesty  appears 
to  be  present  with  us  in  an  external  manner."* 

*  White,  40. 


•i'   I 


KX(JLLS1I    MISSIONS. 


493 


tacks  from  the 
educated  in  the 
red  to  Totopaco, 
11  of  the  former 
tribe,  embraced 
iiade  several  ex- 
its, tlie  war  ren- 
8  thus  described 

rpreter,  and  ser- 

{  and  the  third 

!3se,  butter,  diied 

id  a  chest  con- 

ar  for  mass,  the 

smal  water.    In 

s,  fishing-hooks, 

le  Indians.    We 

un,  and  a  larger 

ties  implements 

to  reach  some 

If  we  do  not 

bank,  collects 

t  to  hunt :  and 

,  and  then  lie 

with  rain,  we 

iks  be  to  God, 

if  we  were  ac- 

)resent  comfort, 

s  about  to  give 

3g  all  hardship 

lajesty  appears 


3 


This  iitV*  was  iit>t  exempt  from  dani^fr,  but  tlie.^iviri<'  interposi- 
tion excite<l  them  to  hold  life  less  dear  than  duty.  An  Aiiacostan 
Indian  fell  into  a  Susqiiclianna  anibusli,  and  pit-rcu'd  from  side  to 
side  witii  the  keen'sj)ear,  lay  weiteriiiLf  in  his  blood.  His  friends, 
recalled  by  his  crv,  bore  him  to  j'iseatawav,  an<l  laid  him  on  a 
mat  before  his  door.  Here  Father  W'liite  foimd  him,  ehantinLj  in 
his  dvinijc  voice  the  never  forufotten  deal h-son<^  while  his  friends 
joined  in,  the  Christians  invoking  the  aid  of  heaven  in  his  behalf, 
lie  too  was  a  Christian;  and  Father  White,  s<'eiiig  his  jx'rilous 
state,  renewed  his  faith  and  heard  his  confession.  Then  readini,'  a 
gospel  and  the  Litany  of  Loretto  over  him,  he  urjjed  him  to  com- 
mend himself  to  Jesus  and  Mary.  After  applying  to  his  wounds 
a  relic  of  the  Holy  Cross,  he  directed  the  attendants  to  bring  his 
corpse  to  the  chapel  for  buiial,  and  then  lann«-hed  his  canoe  to 
visit  a  dying  catechumen.  As  he  was  returning  the  next  day,  to 
his  amazement  he  belieid  the  same  hulian  ai»proaehing  him  in  a 
canoe,  paddling  with  as  vigoious  a  stroke  as  his  comra<le.  Still 
greater  was  Father  White's  surprise  when  the  Indian,  stepping 
into  his  boat,  threw  ofi"  his  blanket  and  showed  a  red  line,  the  only 
trace  of  liis  deadly  wound,  (iiorifying  God  for  so  signal  a  favor, 
the  good  missionary  admonished  the  happy  man  never  to  be  un- 
grateful to  God,  but  ever  to  love  and  honor  the  most  holy  name 
of  Jesus  and  his  holy  cross,  to  the  instmmentality  of  which  he 
owed  his  recovery.* 

While  the  Englisli  Jesuits  in  Maryland  were  thus  equalling 
their  brethren  in  Canada  in  devotedness  and  zeal,  Claiborne,  the 
evil  genius  of  the  colony,  raised  the  standard  of  rebellion  in  1644, 
expelled  the  governor  in  the  following  year, "  carried  off  the  pnests 
and  reduced  them  to  a  miserable  slavery."  All  the  Jesuits  were 
sent  prisoners  to  England,  and  the  missions,  not  only  of  the  In- 
dians but  of  the  whites,  depnved  of  pastoi-s  in  a  land  the  first  to 


♦  White,  in  Force ;  Burnup,  p.  40,  194. 


404 


AMERICAN    CATHOLIC    iMISSlONS. 


establish  tVoo  tolcnition.*  Tliis  state  contimiod  for  ihnu'  yeaiH, 
tlioii  FatlM'i*  riiilip  Kislior  and  some  otlicis  retiirnrd  to  Ial)or  in 
secret.  Kisher,  in  March,  1G48,  joined  the  Indians  from  wlioni  he 
had  l»een  torn,  and  renewed  his  mission.  Otliers  followed,  and 
there  wa8  once  more  a  hope  that  the  natives  would  Iw  won  to 
Christ. 

A  new  storm,  however,  arose.  Chailes  !.  was  at  last  overthrown, 
and  monarchv  in  Enorland  fell.  Fanaticism  atjain  ruled  in  Marv- 
land  :  the  cleri,'y  ofliciated  only  in  secret,  and  Indian  missions  be- 
came impossible.  In  vain  were  the  Stuarts  restored,  the  ban  was 
still  on  the  Catholic,  and  the  Indian  mission  of  Maryland  was 
closed  forever. 

Restricted  to  the  care  of  the  whites,  the  Jesuits  in  Maryland 
soon  numbered  native  members,  who,  on  the  suppression  of  their 
society,  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  present  church  in  the  United 
States,  and  reorganizing  at  the  earliest  moment,  restored  the 
order. 

The  Maryland  Province,  as  we  liave  seen,  founded  the  present 
Vice-province  of  Missoun,  and  thus  the  missions  among  the  Pas- 


*  This  ends  the  career  of  Futher  Wliitc,  the  illustrious  founder  of  the 
Maryhind  mission.  lie  was  born  iu  London,  about  1579.  Educated  at 
Douay,  lie  became  a  priest,  and  s  as  banished  from  England  in  1606.  (Clial- 
loner's  Missionary  Priests,  ii.  14.)  Entering  the  recently  opene>l  novitiate 
of  the  Society  of  Jesus  at  Louvain,  in  160/,  he  was,  after  his  prob,>tion,  sent 
to  England,  and  after  being  a  r.-issionary  there,  was  professor  of  Hebrew, 
Tiieology,  and  Holy  Scripture  in  Spain,  at  Louvain  and  at  Liege.  From  Vir- 
ginia he  was  sent  to  England — tried,  and  banished.  After  in  vain  endeavor- 
ing to  reach  Maryland  he  returned  to  England,  and  died  December  27,  1650 
(0.  S.).  (See  Tanner,  Gesta  prseclara,  803 ;  Oliver,  verbo  White  ;  Campbell, 
Early  Missions.) 

Father  Roger  Rigby  was  born  in  Lancashire  in  1608,  and  entered  the  So- 
ciety at  the  age  of  21.  He  was  one  of  those  who  in  1640  solicited  "that 
happie  mission  of  Mariland."  He  was  carried  to  Virginia  with  Father  White, 
and  died  there  In  1646. 

Father  Fisher  was  also  taken.  During  the  period  of  the  mission,  Father^ 
Altham,  Copley,  Gravener,  Brock,  and  the  lay-brothers  Gervaae  and  Knowles, 
had  died — a  fearful  mortality  tor  so  short  a  period. 


I  for  tlirci?  years, 
turn('<l  to  lai>or  in 
IIS  from  whom  lio 
ers  followed,  and 
k'ould  Ikj   won  (o 

t  last  overthrown, 
:i  rnled  in  Marv- 
<liim  missions  bu- 
►retl,  tlie  ban  was 
ot*  Maryland  was 


KNGLIStt   MISSIONS. 


496 


™.n.-u,r,.«l.li..s   i„    M,.i,„,    „,„   l.ot,a,vo.a.nic.»,    Osa.-os     Mhmi, 

;;;;;  ""'"•'":"';  ■■" •  '''-"""t,  .1..  i.ia,i„.a:,, ,.,;,;.,,.' 

"   <«"■-!  Alonos  of  O,.ogon,  and  oven  an,on,.  ,|,o  [n. „  oi' 

A  drov  V. Into.     ]„  „.i.s  «„,  .„.  separate  ,„i..,i„ns  founded  u       • 
Spamsl,,  trenc  „  or  Knglisi.  rnio,  blended  into  one,  are  now  und 
the  Amencan  hierareby,  earned  on  a.,  of  old  ' 


nits  in  Maryland 
•pression  of  their 
h  in  the  United 
!nt,  restored  the 

idod  the  present 
among  the  Pas- 


)U3  founder  of  the 
1579.  Educated  at 
%nd  in  1606.  (Chal- 
ly  opene  I  novitiate 
his  prob.vtion,  sent 
ofcssor  of  Hebrew, 
Liego.  From  Vir- 
sr  in  vain  endeavor- 
December  27,  1G5G 
White ;  Campbell, 

id  entered  the  So- 
>40  solicited  "that 
tvith  Father  "White, 


0  mission,  Father.-^ 
rvase  and  Knowles, 


iM*' 


3* 


« 


• 


APPENDIX. 


FATHER  ISAAC  JOGUES. 


In  the  notice  of  tlic  Irorpiois  mission  no  notioo  was  trlvonof  the  Ilfo  of  thi? 
holy  inissioniiry.  Isiiftc  Jojjues  wiis  ii  native  of  Oiloans  in  France.  IJorii  on 
the  10th  of  January,  10n7,  of  u  hi^rhly  rcspcctahic  family  still  existinj^  there, 
lie  was  eminent  in  ciiikliiood  for  i)iety,  and,  on  the  close  of  hin  studios, 
entered  the  Society  of  Jesus,  at  Ilouen,  in  October,  \>'>'2i.  Full  of  zeal  for  liie 
missions,  he  solicited  that  of  Ethiopia;  but  was  applied  toteachinff,  for  which 
he  possessed  rare  qualifications.  Wlien  htj  at  last  beiran  his  tlieo!o<»ical 
course,  he  ajrain  solicited  a  foreitrn  mission,  and,  on  his  ordination  in  16:3rt, 
was  sent  to  Canada.  At'ter  a  short  stay  at  Miscoii  he  proceeded  to  (iuehec. 
and  thence  to  lluronia.  His  subsequent  career  on  the  mission  we  have 
pivcn ;  and  we  have  oidy  to  add  that  on  his  way  from  New  York,  tlien  New 
Amsterdfttn,  he  was  driven  on  the  coast  of  Knylaml,  and  robbed  of  every 
thinf,'.  Keaching  France  in  a  wretched  pliLJit,  he  was  soon  an  object  ot 
general  admiration  :  the  Queen  Mother  invited  him  to  Court ;  and  the  Tope, 
with  words  of  hijrhest  praise,  pave  him  permission  to  celebrate  Mass  with 
his  mutilated  hands.  "  Indignum  esse  Christi  martyrem  Christi  non  bibere 
sanguinem."  On  his  return  to  Canada  he  projected  the  Iroquois  mission, 
and  was  killed  at  Caughnawaga  on  tlie  ISth  of  October,  104(5.  We  have  still 
extant  a  description  of  New  Netherland,  and  a  sketch  of  Kene  Goupil,  in  his 
own  handwriting.  The  former  is  to  be  found  in  the  Documentary  Jlistcry 
of  New  York.  His  Journal  is  given  by  Alegambe,  Tanner,  Bre.-sani,  and 
will  appear  in  the  New  York  Historical  Collections.  His  letters  have  been 
collected  and  published  in  Canada.  All  his  writing;^  breathe  a  .spirit  of 
fervent  piety,  love  of  suffering,  fidelity  to  the  vows  and  obligations  of  his 
order. 

FATHER  JOHN  BAPST. 

This  missionary,  connected  intimately  with  the  later  Abnaki  missions, 
enjoys  the  enviable  position  of  a  confessor  fortlie  faith.  He  was  born  at  L." 
Roche,  in  the  Catholic  canton  of  Friburg,  in  18^5,  and  educated  at  the 
Jesuit  college  in  the  capital.  Here,  too,  he  entered  the  Society  of  Jesus, 
and  was  constantly  employed  till  1848,  when  the  Catholic  cantons  were  de- 
prived of  their  inalienable  rights,  and  reduced  to  a  sort  of  slavery.     Tho 


498 


APPENDIX. 


J  r  f 


If 


Society  of  Jesus  in  Switzerland  was  compelled  to  send  many  of  its  mission- 
nrics  abroatf.  Father  Bapst,  who  had  a  fjrrcat  aversion  to  the  foreign  nli^- 
sions,  was  suddenly  sent  to  Anieriea,  at  a  moinent  when,  in  dreams,  he  hc- 
^|khcld  himself  amid  a  barbarous  race.  Stationed  at  Oldtown,  on  the  Penob- 
scot, he  devoteil  himself  to  the  study  of  the  Abnaki,  and  ministered  to  the 
Indians  for  two  years.  Here  lie  established  habits  of  temperance,  reeoneilcil 
party  feuds,  attended  his  ilock  in  the  tryini,'  time  of  the  cholera,  and  en- 
ileavorcd  to  secure  the  trilie  the  benefits  of  Christian  education.  (Govern- 
ment, however,  thwarted  his  desii^nis,  and  deprivinj;  the  Penobscots  of  a 
priest,  drove  many,  as  voluntary  exiles,  to  Canada,  Father  Bapst  was  then 
placed  on  the  white  mission,  ami  ndnistered,  with  some  companions,  to  the 
scattered  Catholics.  His  attempt  to  prevent  Catholic  children  from  beiiiL: 
forced  to  learn  Protestant  doctrines  at  their  own  expense,  drew  on  Idm  the 
odiutn  of  some  of  the  people  of  Ellsworth.  On  the  8th  of  .July,  1854,  it  was 
resolved,  at  i\  iotvii  mcetintj,  that  if  he  returned  to  the  place  he  should  hr 
tarred  and  featlierod,  and  ridden  on  a  rail.  On  tiie  14th  of  October,  Fatht- 
Bapst  visited  the  place,  to  otliciate  the  next  day.  When  this  was  known,  a 
mob  assembled,  broke  into  the  house,  rol>l>ed  him  of  his  purse  and  wateii, 
dragged  him  out,  and  pultin;,'  hiin  astride  a  rail,  carried  him  aloni?  the  strei  t 
for  a  considerable  distance.  Ilaltimr  at  leu<rth,  they  stripi)ed  him,  usuil' 
every  violence  in  act  and  hTnjjuaire,  filthy  as  hell  or  their  own  hearts.  Tlio 
sheriff,  it  is  said,  came  up  at  this  time  to  rescue  him,  but,  it  seems,  was  un- 
able to  sec  him,  and  returned.  Then  the  mob  covered  the  priest  with  tar, 
nnd  pourinjr  feathers  over  him,  lef't  him  about  two  miles  from  the  house 
whence  he  had  been  taken.  This  lie  at  len<rth  reached  in  a  state  of  great 
suffering,  and  it  being  past  nudnight,  refused  all  nourishment,  as  he  had  to 
say  nniss  that  day. 

The  citizens  of  Bangor,  where  Father  Bapst  resided,  were  loud  in  de- 
nouncing tlie  miscreants  who  had  cast  such  a  blot  on  the  lionor  of  the  Kepublic. 
They  presented  the  illustrious  sufferer  with  a  watch  and  purse,  and  sought 
to  bring  the  villains  to  justice  ;  but  alas  1  hatred  of  Catholicity  is  so  rampant 
that  a  public  meeting  justified,  as  another  liad  suggested  the  act,  and  tbo 
grand  jury  refused  to  indict  the  offenders,  twelve  or  fifteen  of  whom  had  been 
arrested  and  identified. 

Such  is  one  of  the  later  Abnaki  missionaries.  And  it  is  a  curious  fact  that 
no  missionary  to  that  tribe  was  ever  injured  by  the  Indians,  while  Brother 
du  Thet  and  Father  Kale  were  killed,  and  Father  Bapst  lias  been  thus  cruelly 
treated  by  the  whites,  more  savage  than  the  original  occupants  of  the  soil. 


munv  of  its  mission- 
to  the  forcif,')!  nii^- 
n,  it)  dreams,  lie  l>c- 
Itowii,  on  tlic  Penoi)- 
ud  ministered  to  tlie 
mpcranoe,  rcconeilcil 
the  ciiolura,  and  eii- 
education.  (lovern- 
tlio  Penobscots  of  a 
atlier  Hapst  was  then 
ic  companions,  to  tlio 
eliildren  from  bciiii: 
ise,  drew  on  liim  tlio 
of  July,  18r>4,  it  was 
'i  place  he  should  be 
th  of  October,  Fathc*- 
en  this  was  known,  a 
lis  purse  and  watoli, 
him  aloni^  the  strett 
stripped  liim,  iisiiiu' 
uir  own  hearts.  Tiio 
ut,  it  seems,  was  uii- 
.1  the  priest  with  tar, 
liles  from  the  house 
.'d  in  a  state  of  great 
hment,  as  he  had  to 

d,  were  loud  in  dc- 

lonor  of  the  Kepublic. 

1  purse,  and  souglit 

olieity  is  so  rampaut 

|ted  the  act,  and  the 

u  of  whom  had  been 

lis  a  curious  fact  that 
Llians,  while  Brother 
]ias  been  thus  cruelly 
lupants  of  the  soil. 


APPENDIX. 


499 


LIST  OF  MISSIONARIES. 


ABNAKl  MISSIONARDlS. 


MISSIONARIES. 


ARRIVED. 


I'eter  IJiard.  S.  J Tunc,  161 1 

Kiu-monil  Ma-ss*! June,  1611 

Iiriiatiiis  <le  Pari!',  Cap. 


CoMiDus  <le  Mant»'t,  Caji. 


Aug.  15,  104:} 


.'» 
II 
12 
l.S 
14 
l.') 
U5 
17 
1>! 
11» 
•20 
21 
22 


(iabriel  l>ruillcti-.' 
.laiiifS  Bi_'ii 

Vineeni  Hi;:ot 

Julian  Kiiinuttau 

Louis  I'ierrc  Tliiiry,  F.  M ,  I 

oriL  I)i-c.  21,  1077.  )    

j!''liastian  Kale,  S.  J Oct.  13,  1089 

Stoplion  LauviTgat 

.lohn  Lovanl 

Ciaudo  liu  Puy 

•lames  de  Sircnne 

I'iorre  de  la  Cliasse 

.Ii'sepli  Aubry 

Michael  A.  Gaulin,  F.  M 

l{a-e«)t.  F.  M 

(.'o«luard,  F.  M ' 

(icnnain,  S.  .1 


IN  MAIN  P.. 


1013 

10l:J 

1040 

lOls 

1040- 

10n7 

10s7 

1093 

16S; 


7, 1650-2, 1C56 


DIED. 

Nov. 
May 

17,  1022 
12,  1056 

■  .  .  . 

A  pi. 

8,  16>1 

-91) 
-1724 


Francis  Ciquard,  Sulp. 

John  Cheverus 

Kouiugno 


11795 


1093- 

1724 

1724 

1724 

1731 

1703 

1703 

1704 

109S-1704 

1760 

1760 

1792  or  1793 

about  1796 


j  about  17ii7 
d.  Juno  .3.  1699 
k.  Auc;.  23,  1721 


d.  after  1750 


after  1M2 
July,  1S36 


HURON  MISSIONARIES. 


MISSIONARIES.  AnRIVED. 

1  Joseph  Lc  Caron,  IJec May  25,  1615 

2  William  Poulain,  Uec June.  1619 

3  Niehohus  Viel.  Kec Juno  2S  1023 

4  Tlu'odat  Sacard,  L.  B June  28,  1023 

5  ,Tos  de  la  Koclie  Daillon,  Kec.    1025 

0  John  de  Rrebcuf,  S.  J June  19,  1625 

7  Anne  <le  None .Tulv  14,  102t> 

S  Antlionv  Daniel luiie  24,  1033 

9  .\mbrose  Davost June  24,  ItWS 

10  Francis  Lem.  'cier , Julv  20,  10:^5 

11  Peter  Pijart Inly  10.  10:15 

12  riiarles  (Marnier luiie  1 1,  10.36 

13  Peter  Ch.istellain Tune  1 1,  1036 

14  I.«aac  .loiiues Inly  2,  1030 

15  Paul  R.ipuenean June  2S,  1636 


ON  .MISSIO.V. 

101.5-10,1623-24 

1022 

T023-2.'» 

102:$- 24 

102<W2> 

16.'0-9.  34-41,  44- 

1020-27 

16:{4-.30. 163S-4S 

1034-:^0 

10.3.V.M> 

10:(.')-44 

16:S0-49 

1036-50 

16.36-12 

16:^7-40,1641-50 


DIFTD. 


1632 


k.  Julv.  1025 
left  in  1624 
l.ft  in  1629 
k.  Mar  10,  1049 
frozen  Feb.l.164G 
k.  July  4, 164S 
d.  at  sea  in  1l>43 
left  aOor  1070 
left  in  10.50 
k.  Dec.  7,  1649 
<1.  Aug.  14,  1683 
k.  Oct.  IS,  1646 
left  Sept.  1666 


500 


APPENDIX. 


HURON  MISSrONAUIES— (Continued.) 


1G 
17 

ly 
'21 

'2'i 
28 
•i4 

•-':> 
w 

•-'7 

'.N 
20 
80 


MLSSIOVAIIIFS.  AURIVED. 

.It-nuiie  Lulcinant,  S.  J Aiijj.  2(i,  16as 

Simon  It'  Moync l(i8S 

Francis  Dupt'-ron 1(5 '.8 

1'.  .).  M.  Cliitiiinonot Aiijr.  1,  \M9 

Jost'iili  A.  roni'i'i Aiiii.  1,  lC:t9 

CliiirU's  U:iyinljaiit lli:>7 

Clnudo  rijiiil Inly  14,  lt;:!7 

Kiiu'  Mi-riiird July  S,  U540 

Lctmnnl  (Jiirroiiu Aulr.  ir>,  Hi4^{ 

NataliM  (."Imhaiicl . .» Auir.  1.%  1(!4;J 

Franc,  .f.  IJrcssani I(i42 

tlalirid  Lalcmant Sept.  2ii.  104(5 

Adrian  Daran ! .\nir.  fi.  KUii 

Janie.s  Honin   j  Au^r.  14,  1(i47 

Adrian  Grelon '  Auij.  14,  l(i47 


I  ON  MLS8ION. 

:  lft5S-45 
1«8S-41 

I  n;:{'j-5o 

l(J:W-4(i,  lC4.')-r)0 

l(;4()-42 

l<>4tl-.^0 

;'Ui-r)0 

l(U4-f)i) 

i(;44-4;t 

1C4.')-41» 
ir.4s-4D 
l(i48-oit 
l(U8-5'i 
i  KUS-fiO 


DIED. 


d.  Jan.  2f,.  1673 
d.  Nov.  21,  llif,.-) 
d.  Nov.  10,  MWr, 
d.  Fch.  21,  Itiic; 

,d.  Ocl.  22.  i»;42 
Id.  after  l(i(W 
Ik.  Aii«.  1  (it'll 
jk.  Sept.  1  ();■)(> 
k.  Dec.  \  n;4;t 
iclt  Nov.  2.  Kmii 
;k.  Mar.  17.  ItU'.i 
I  left  in  ir..-)0 
left  in  Ifiod 
died  in  Cliina 


IROQUOIS  MISSIONARIES  IN  NEW  YORK. 


|i  ' 


MI9SIONA1UK.*. 


* 

8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 

ir. 
1() 

17 
IS 

19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
2o 
26 
27 
2S 

29 
30 
81 


AUKIVED. 


ON  MISSION. 


Isaac  Jojrue.s,  S.  J July  2,  1('(86 

1>  inei.s  J.  l>r»s.<ani 1642 

Joseph  A    I'oncLt \  Au<i.  1,  1639 

Slnu)n  le  Movne 163s 

I'cler  J.  M.  Chauinoiiot I  Aiitr.  1,  10-39 

Claude  Dat.lon ;  Ki.Vj 

Frs.  J.  le  Morcier July  2!t,  10:^ 

Keno  Mcinird iJiily  S,  1()40 

.lames  Fremiii I . . .". 

Paul  Ka^'ueneau    I  June  2S,  1()36 

Francis  Duperon   1638 

James  Ilruyas I  Anir.  3,  1666 

John  Pierron |  June  27.  1667 

Julian  Gam. IT 'Oct.  16()2 

Stephen  de  Carluil | Aujr.  6,  1006 

Peter  Milet | 

Thierry  Heschet'er I  June  19,  id'iS 

Louis  S'icholiis I  Mav  25,  1  ()63 

I'etor  Uair.ix Sept.  22,  VW.i 

Francis  ISoniface 


I 


li)0>? 


I 


Frs.  Vaillaiit  de  (Jiieslis  .. 

John  de  Ijiml>or\il!c    

James  de  Lamlierville 

Peter  Mareull 

James  dF.u 

Francis  Picquet,  S.  S.  S 

llamon  Guen 

John  Pierre  Davaux  IJerson  } 
de  la  Garde  )" 

Elie  Deperet 

John  Claude  Mathevct I  Au2.  7.  1740 

Peter  Paul  F.  de  la  Garde June,  17M 


Sept.  1733 


1642-43,  1640 

1644 

lO-W 

1(554-5S.  1061-62 

l(!.j.'»-.')S 

i(K)6-r)S 

l(i56-r)S 

16.">(>-5S,  1067-71 

l(557-5>» 

1657-5S 

1667-70* 

1667-79* 

l(i6S-S3,  1702 

1608-71, 1672-S4 

I668-S4,  1689-04 

1670-71 y 

1670-71 

167 1-79* 

1671-73 

1074-79,?  1703-04 
il()71-s7 

1675-86 

1709 

1708-9 
■1748-60 

1750-52 

,1753-54 


1758-00 
1760 


DIED. 


k.  Oct.  la  16-p-) 
d.  Sept.  9,  107-.' 
d,  June  18,  KIT.") 
tl.  Nov.  24,  lOi;.^ 
d.  Feb.  21.  lO'JJ 
alive  in  1691 
in  West  Indies 
k.  Aui;  1661 
d.  July  20,  1(1!>1 
rl  Sept.  3.  1680 
d.  Nov.  1065 
d.  after  1703 


alive  in  1722 
d.  July,  17'>6 
alive  i"n  l7itl 
alive  in  1691 


alive  in  17(i2 
d.  Dec.  17,  107} 


in  France.  lOi*'.' 
d.  after  17u5 
d.  1742 


d.  July  15.  IT'^l 
d.  April  15,  1701 

d.  1790 

d.  April,  1757 

d.  17S1 ? 

d.  April  4,  1784 


Aiid  perhaps  later. 


nue'a.) 


•N. 


DIED. 


>-:>() 


(1.  Jim.  21!.  167:} 
(J.  Nov.  21.  Hit;.-) 
(1.  Nov.  10,  IGii.') 
.1.  1-Vl..  '-'1,  KiiW 

.1.  oia.'i-i.  i<;4j 

;<l.  tlftlT  KitW 

Ik.  \ui:.  KH-.l 
Ik.  Sf|)t.  nirx) 

jk.  Decs,  liU'.t 
lelt  Nov.  •_',  I(;.")i» 

Ik.  Mar.  IT.  ItU'.t 
h'ft  ill  lf..">'> 
lelt  ill  lOoit 
(lied  in  China 


W  YORK. 


lOX. 

DIED. 

IC 

k.  Oct.  18.  IC-lf. 

(I.  !Sopt.  9,  167J 

(1.  June  I':*,  U)T."i 

>l-62 

.1.  Nov.  24,  ir.cr. 

(1.  Feb.  21.  10'J:J 

aiivo  in  1G9I 

in  West  Indies 

k.  A  lit?  16G1 

7-71 

d.  July  20.  101 

il  SepL  3.  ICSl) 

d.  Nov.  lt)tV) 

d.  after  1703 

2 

alive  in  1722 

2-84 

d.  July,  17'>t5 

9-1)4 

alive  in  I7til 

alive  in  1C91 

alive  in  17ii2 

d.  Dec.  17,  1071 

03-04 

in  Franco,  IG'J'.t 

d.  after  17u5 

Id.  1742 

d.  July  l.\  17-1 

d.  April  15,  17G1 

d.  1790 

d.  April,  1757 

d.  17S1  ? 

d.  April  4,  17S4 

APPENDIX. 


ij 


01 


IROQUOIS   MISSIONARIES    IN  NKW  VOliK— (CoiniiiiMMl.) 


MISSION AltlEfl.  I         ARKIVED.  ON  MISSION. 

>\2  Mark  A.  (lordon,  8.  J 17t;o-1775 

;,3  Koderic  McDonnell,  Sec.  F H-S-l-snG 

:!4  A .  Van  Felsen 1  ^oo-2 

to  Uiiilret l>,n-.'-3 

•M  J.  B.  Koupe,  S.  8.  S 1mi7-12 

:'.7  Joseph  Marcoux,  Sec.  F l-^TJ-l'.* 

;;S  Nicholas  Dufresne,  S.  S.  S l-^T.t'i.") 

•.'<\i  Jo^eph  Valle,  !^ec.  F lH2r)-;i2 

40  Francis  Marcoux,  Sec.  F ,1 S12 


VI  ED. 


d.  1777 
d.  1>0« 


d.  1S54 

I 


d.  Is50 


r 


OTTAWA  MISSK  lNARIKS. 


MISSIONARIES. 


AURITED, 


14 
1.5 
1(> 

r 

IS 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
2I\ 
27 
2s 
29 
80 


Isaac  Jojrues,  S.J July  2, 1636 

(.'liarle.s  Itaviiibaut 1(W7 

Fene  MenaVd July  S,  1640 

Claude  Allouez July  11,  16.5S 

Louis  Nichola; .May  2.'),  1663 

JaiiU's  Marquette !^»"pt.  20,  1666 

C'laude  Dulilon 16i)5 

Louis  Andre 

♦  Jabriel  Druilietes Au','.  1.").  164;J 

Ili-nry  Nouvel \\v^.  4.  1662 

1  ;  arlos  Albanel Au;;.  23,  1  (V49 

1  'ter  Bailloquet June  25,  1647 

1  tiilip  Fiorson Sejit.  25,  1()67 

.\i!thony  Silvy 

Feter  Andrew"  IJonneault 

John  Eiijalran 

Nicholas  Fotler 

James  Gravier 

Claude  Aveiieau 

Stephen  do  Carlieil Au<;.  6,  1666 

James  Josejih  Marcst 

J.  B.  Cliardon 

J.  C.  Guy monneau 

Feter  M.  Guignas 

C.  M.  Messaiffer 

J.  B.  Lainoriide 

0  us-tinian  la  Kichnrdie 

Marin  Louis  Lefranc 

Fierre  Dujaunay 

Feter  Fotier 


I    TI.ME  ON  MISSION. 

J  (542 
11642 

1660-61 
:i665-S» 
i 1 667-6S 
'  166-1-75 

166S-71 

1669-79* 

1669-S(» 

1671-1700* 

l(i7S-''S* 

1675-S^* 

1675-si* 

1676-7^* 

1676-79* 

167S-'^S* 

16     -S4 

1  d'^sf 

16^St-170.3* 

16S^t-17u3♦ 

17(H(t-1712* 


DIED. 


k.  Oct.  lt>46 
Oct.  22,  1642 
ik.  i\uii.  1661 
about  A  us.  169(1 

Id.'  May  19,"  1675  ' 


d.  April  S,  16^1 


!1706 

I   

;july,  1726 


1721-22 
172!S-;}(l 
1724 
1749-50 


till  17(>4 

1764 

1751t-Sl 


d.  July  16, 17S1 


*  And  perhaps  later. 


t  And  perhaps  earlier. 


ILLINOIS  MISSIONARIES. 


MISSIONARIES. 


AliUIVED. 


WHEN    IN    ILLINOIS. 


DIED. 


1  James  Miirquelte,  S.  J Sept.  20.  1666 

2  Claude  Allouez July  11,  16.5S 

3  Gabriel  de  la  Uibourde,  Kec. ..  Aug.  1670 

4  Zeiiobius  Meinbre June,  1675 


1673-75 
1677,  1()79 
16>^0 
l(!S<i 


''t 


]Mav  19,  1675 
•ibo'ut  Aup.  1690 
k.  Sept.  19.  1«>S(» 
k.  UW6-7 


502 


APPENJ)IX. 


ILLINOIS  MISSION AKIKS—((J()ntiniU'fl.) 


MISSIOXARIES. 


AKKIVEU. 


5 

C 

7 
8 
«> 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
1.'. 
16 
17 
IS 
19 
20 
21 
22 

2:$ 

24 

25 
2(i 
27 

2S 

*.iO 
31 
32 
83 


James  Gravier,  S.  J June,  IC,  1072  V 

Stibttstian  l£ule  Oct.  13,  lOSU 

Knincis  I'liict 

(jiihriel  Manst 

James  Marriict 

Julian  Binnetcau. .   

do  Lyinocos 

liovio 

.lolm  15.  C'liardon   

.lolin  Heiftier,  I'riest  of  F.  il 

Louis  Mary  de  Ville,  S.  J 

Dominic  Xlary  Variety  F.  M 

Jojiepii  Ifin.  Ic  Houlanger,  S.J 

de  Kercbcn 

de  lieaiibois 


J.  C.  Guymonnenu 

G.  CaUarin,  F.  M 

1).    A.    U.    Taumnr    de    la  ) 

^lource.  F.M.,ord.  Feb.1717  f 
Jolin  le  Mcreier,  F.  M.,  ord.  ( 

May.  171S  J 

Senat,  S.  J 


Louis  Vivier. 

A.  F.  X.  de  Guyenne 

Douireleau 

Dumiis 1727 

Taitarin 1727 

Vattrin 

Sebast.  L.  Meiirin 

Claude  F.  Virot 

Julian  Duvernay 


WHEN  IN  ILLINOIS. 


lCs7-170« 

1601-1(2 

1700,  i7oa 

17(10,  1703,  1712 

1700,  1703,  1712 

17oi> 

1700 

1700 

1700,  1703,  1721 

1700,  1707,  1710 

1712 

1712-lSv 

1721 

1721 

1721 

1721 

1719 

1721 

1721 

1730 

1750 
'1750 

1727 

11727 

1727-4(5 
,1750 

1750 
,  on  Oliio  in  1757 
,1763 


niED. 


k.  about  1706 
k.  A  up.  23,  1724 
d.  before  1712 


,d.  before  1711 


d.  17-12 


d.  April  4, 1731 

d.  April  17,  17.V2 

k.  1730 

d.  after  Aug.  ITM 


d.  alter  1763 


LOUISIANA  MISSIONARIES. 


Ill 


MISSIONARIES. 


1  Anthony  Davion,  F.  M 

2  Francis  J.  de  Moutignv,  F.  M, 

8  Geoffrey  T.  Krborie,  F.  M.?. 

4  Jolin  ]J.  de  St.  Come 

5  Mieliael  A.  Gaulin 

6  Paul  du  Ku.  S.J 

7  Jo!>epli  de  Limoges 

S  Donge . .  T 

9  Nicholas  Foucault.  F.  M.... 

10  Jolin  1).  Testu,  F.  M.V 

1 1  du  Poisson.  S.  J 

12  de  Guienne 

13  le  Petit 

14 Souel 

15 Moran 

]  6  Baudonin 


Tunica-s  in  1699-1716 
Taensas,  in  1699-1716 
Cboctaws,  in  1699? 
Nateiiez,  in  17oo 
Cenis,  ?  in  1700-2 
Bayagoulas,  1700 
Uumas,  1700-2 


DISD. 


died  before  1727 

diedVfif? 

killed  in  1707 
left  in  1702 


Koroa>? 

Cboctaws,  in  1708? 
Arkant^as,  1727 
Alibamons,  1727 
(hoctaws.  1727  to  near  1730 
jYazoos,  1727 
Alllmmon^  1730* 
Choctaws  from  about  1730  to  174S 


died  at  Mobile,  17()4 
killed  in  Oct.  1702 
killed  1718? 
killed  Nov.  2S,  17-29 


killed  Dec.  11,  1729 


*  And  perliaps  later. 


APPENDIX. 


503 


iu*d.) 


niKD. 


k.  iibout  1706 
k.  A  up.  2'i,  1724 
d.  before  17r2 


(I.  before  1711 


d.  1742 


,d.  April  4, 1731 

d.  April  17,  17:.2 

k.  1730 

d.  after  Aug.  17M 


d.  utter  1703 


■  DIED. 

died  before  1727 

;  died  1727?" 
Ikillcd  in  1707 
;left  in  1702 

!::::::::::::::::::. 

.'(lied  lit  Mobile,  1704 
killed  in  Oct.  1702 
killed  1718? 
killed  Nov.  2S,  17-29 

ikilleJlDee.'ii,!'-'-' 

is!:::::::::::::::..-- 


AUTHORITIES 

USED    IX    THE    COMPILATION    OF   THIS    WORK. 
THE  MISSIONS  GKNERALLY. 


NAMES  or   AUTHORS. 


Henrion 
(retinoau-Joly 


TITLIIS   «K   Wor.KS. 


I'UUMSHKD. 


Ilistoire  Oi'mrale  <le.s  Missions,  4  vols  I'ari.i. 

llistoiro  (!e  h\  Compapnie  de  Jesus,  t)  vols...  Paris,  1S47. 


Uonit 


L)"Oultreumn Tableau  do  i'ersonnages  Signales Domty,  ltJ22, 

,.      ■  !                            !,,.  ,     .    o     1  »  ••    T  <  Antwerp  &, 

Sacchinus llistoria  Societatis  Jesu -  i    \^]2i\-},'^ 

.Touvency llistoria  Sooietatis  tTesu Konie,  1710. 

(cirdara jllistoria  Societati:*  Jesu Home,  I'-'tO. 

llibadaneira Centuria  et  Catalosus illonie.  If.Oi). 

De  La>n iNovus  Orbis Ir.ui;.  Hat..  1633. 


■|; 


Alefraiiibo 'Mortcs  lllustres 

Tanner Societiis  Jesu  Militans. 

"      ( Jesta  rncclara 

Purclias Pilfrriin 

Kakluyt rhncipal  Navijrallons. . 


Pvftfn. 


NOKWKGIAN. 

Antiquitatos  AmorU-nna^ 

Memoirs  of  tbe  Koyal  Ijociety  of  Northern 

Antiqnarie.'*. 
;\ineri«-a  Discovercil  in  tlie  Tenth  Centurv 


lionie.  1<))".7. 
Prague,  lt'>78. 
Prague,  lt)73. 
London,  ltt'J(), 
London,  1S09. 


\ 


Smith The  Northmen  in  New  England . 

White Apologia  pro  Ilibernia. 


Ilafniir,  19.'?7. 

Ilafhite,  1S3C-9. 

'New  York,  1938. 
Boston,  18:J9. 
Dublin,  134lt. 


SPANISH. 

Touron ITistolrc  nonfrale  de  TAmerique,  14  vols Paris,  1770. 

Herrera llistoria  General .Madrid,  lt)05. 

Gomara llistoria  General .Madrid,  172.3. 

Aleman Dlsertaciones  sobre  la  llistoria  de  Megico  ...Me.xico.  1S43. 

Barezzi Cronique  des  Freres  Mineurs,  2  vols. Paris.  IGi  9. 

Cabeza  de  Vaca Naiifragos Madrid,  1723. 

(.':istaneda  de  Nagera. .  Relation  du  Voyage  de  Cibola Paris,  183^. 

Torquemada. Monanjnia  Indiana Madrid,  172.3, 

lienavides Memorial Madri<l,  1 03i), 

Mendoza Hel.-ieion  de  la  Pina Madrid,  1.">S9. 

AL'reda La  Mistiea  Ciudad  de  Dies Me.\ie<>,  IS.'iO. 

Villasenor Teatro  Amerieano Madrid,  1743. 

Alcedo Diccionario  Geogratico ,Mtidriil,  17S6. 

Cardenas Ensayo  Cronologico Madrid,  T72.3. 

Vega. La  Florida Madrid,  172.3. 

Las  Ciisas jfEuvres Pari,<,  ISIO. 

Ciuicer  &  Beteta jUelation  de  la  Florida Paris,  1841. 

Davis jCarribee  Islands London.  KiCC. 

Charlevoi.v Journal  de  Voyage Paris.  174". 

Kdberts iFlorida ." London,  1703. 

Koman JFlorida N.-w  York,  1775. 

Garcia JManual  para  Admlni..*trar  los  i<acri»mentos  . .  Mexico,  1700, 

Apostol  afanes  ile  la  Compania  de  Jesus Hare.,  17.'>4. 

.\legrc 'llistoria  do  la  Coinp,  de  J,  en  Mexico Mexico,  IV)!. 

Vcnegas |Historia  do  la  California Madrid.  17.''j7. 

Clavigero Storia  della  California Venezuela. 

I'alou Relacion  Hittorioa Mexim,  I7S7. 


1  ■'- 


604 


APPENDIX. 


SPANISH— (Contniucd.) 


i  f 


NAMKB  OK  AUTHORS. 


titij:8  ok  works. 


I 


PCBUSnEU. 


Xoticiii  <io  111  Provincia  do  las  Californias —  Valcn..  1794. 

Jtoscana Cliini^'cliiiiicli New  York,  1S46. 

DiiHot  de  Mofras Exploration  de  TOrogon » Paris,  1S44. 

Kobinson Life  in  California New  York,  184C. 

Bartlett Personal  Narrative New  York,  t&54. 

'Histoire  Cliri'tienno  de  la  (.'alifornie Paris,  1S51. 


Kip. 


■1 


I'KENCII. 

Lltteriv  Anniiie,  S.  .1 

Lettres  Kdiliaiites  et  C'lirieuses 

Jesuit  Missions 

Merctire  Fntiirnis 

lieliitions  de  la  Noiivelle  France  et  du  pays'] 
dcs    Hnrons,  par   Laleinant,    Le  Jenne,  [ 
Kiiirueneaii.   Le   Mereier,    Dablon,   Urc 
beuf.  40  vols, 

Annales  dc  la  Propasation  dc  la  Foi,  24  vols. 

.Arelin'olofrja  Aiuericuna,  '2  vols 

Maine  lli.>torical  Colleetions.  3  vols. 

New  Ilainpsliire  Historical  Collections,  Tt  vs, 

Massaeluisetts  llistorit-al  Collections   

iNew  York  Historical  (collections.  18  vols 

jNew  York  Documentary  History,  4  vols 

[New  York  Colonial   Koeunienls,  .S  vols 

iLonisiana  Histiirical  Collections,  !S  vols 

.Quebec  Historical  Collections,  3  vols 

■American  I'liilossopliical  Society,  ft  vols 

i Memoirs  of  the  American  Academy 

Force 'Historical  Collect lims,  4  vols 

Sparks 'American  Hio^rapliy.  "iS  vols 

Pinkerton General  Collection  of  Yoyages,  6  vols 

Cliamplain ;  Voyajres.  '2  vols 

Sasrard Orand  Yoyaire  an  pays  des  Hurons 

""  Histoire  du  Canada 

Lescarbot Histoire  dc  la  Noiivelle  France 

Creiixius Historia  Canadensis 

liressani Hreve  lielatione 

Le  C'lercq 

Houclier 

Charlevoix 

De  la  Potlieric. 
r..afltaii . 


,  Ktablissement  de  la  Foi,  2  vols 

Histoire  Nat iirelle  du  Canada 

Histoire  Oeneriile  de  la  Nouvelle  France,  6v 

Histoire  de  rAmeriipie 

Moeurs  des  Sauvajres 

Garnean Histoire  du  Canada,  8  vols 

Williamson 1  History  of  Maine 

Hutchinson History  of  Massachusetts 

Smith History  of  New  York,  2  vols 

lirodhead History  of  New  York 

O'Callnghan History  of  New  Netherland , 

Billon History  of  Indiana , 

]$rown History  of  Illinois. 

I'eynohl? History  of  Illinois. 

Lanman Historv  of  Micbi::an , 

Peck Annals  of  tlie  West 

MeSherry Ili^lnry  of  Maryland 

Martin History  of  Louisiana. 

Gayarre History  of  Louisiana 

Dumont Mirnoires  de  la  Lonisiane 

Marbois History  of  Louisiana 

Monetle History  of  the  Mississippi  Yalley 

I)iseo\»ry  and  Lxploration  of  tlio  Mississippi 


Lyons,  1611,  &c. 
Paris,  V.  a. 
New  York,  1S4G. 
:  Paris. 

!  Paris,  1632-72. 

Lyons,  1<^22,  &c. 
Camb.,  1836. 

1S24. 

17!t2-54. 

1S09-54. 

1S46. 

IsVi. 

1S46. 

1S33. 

Pliiladelphia,  17^t^. 

18;!3. 

Hoston,  1S4S. 

V.  a. 

Philadelphia,  ISll. 

Paris,  ls30. 

Paris,  1  ()32. 

Paris,  1636. 

Paris,  1609. 

Parks,  1636. 

Macerata.  1653. 

Paris,  1691. 

Paris,  1849. 

Paris,  1744 

Paris,  1722. 

Paris,  1724. 

Quebec,  1852. 

Hall,  1S32. 

London,  182'^. 

New  York,  1S29. 

18.V?. 

1^46. 

Indiana,  1813. 


New  York,  18"2. 
Cincinnati.  1*^40. 
Baltimore,  1841*. 


New  York,  ISM. 
Paris. 

Philadelpliia,  \^W. 
New  York. 
New  York.  KV-'. 


pfBUSnED. 


,'Valcn..  1T94.     ^ 
New  York,  1*46. 

.Paris,  1S44. 

.New  York,  1810. 
New  York,  1&54. 

.iParis,  1S51. 


...Lyons,  1611,  «&c. 

...I Paris,  V.  a. 
...JNew  York,  1S4(). 

...  jParis. 
«'  l.lPari^l6•3'2-72. 

C-      j 

mls.iLyons,  l'^22,  &c 
Caiub.,  1836. 

5  vs.;lS24. 
....ll7St2-54. 
s....  isn9-54. 

i....'1846. 

llNVi. 

1S46. 

llS:i3. 

....iPliiladelpliia,  l«>f. 

1 hftu. 

Boston,  1S4S, 

Iv.  a.  ^.,, 

Pliila(lelphi8,l^ll- 
Paris,  1830. 
Paris,  UW2. 
Paris,  16;36. 
Paris,  1609. 
I  Paris,  1636. 
iMacerata.  1653. 
Paris,  1691. 
.Paris  1849. 
..Paris  1744 
.Paris  1722. 
.Paris  1724. 
.Quebec  1852. 
1 1  fall,  1832. 
.London,  1828. 
.'New  York,  1S20. 

.1^6. 
, .  Indiana,  1S43. 


p,6v 


New  York,  IS^^i. 
Cincinnati.  I**t0. 
IJaltiuiore,  184''- 

New  York,  ISM. 
Purls. 

Philadelphia,  IS.*?" 
. .  New  York, 
lipni.  New  York.  I"*-'-'. 


KAMKS  OF  AUTIIOKS. 


Bancroft . . . 
Holmes 

Selioolcraft . 

Drake 

Dablon 

Le  Clercq. . 
Hennepin. . 


La  Tlontan. 

Kalni 

Ulloa 


Henry. . 
Butler..., 

Viper 

St.  Valier. 
Ferland. . 


l)c  Smet. 


■Williams.... 
Heekwelder. 
8t.  John  . . . . 

Bayley 

Mather 


I 


Campbell  . . 
Itasueneau. 
Cliarlevoix. 
T>e  la  Tour. 
Faillon  . . . . 


appp:ndix. 


FKEiNX'II— (Continued.) 


,  TITLES   OK  W0UK8. 

j.\MU'rican  Archives,  (>  series 

LAinericaii  State  Pajiers,  21  vol.s 

Journal  of  the  .\s.sciiibly  of  New  York.  2  vh. 
[Journal  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New  / 
I     York.  f 

History  of  the  T'nited  States  6  vol.-* 

Annals  of  .Vineruvi,  2  vols 

Hi.«tory  and  Prou'rc.-.-*  of  the  Indian  Trihes,  ( 
4  vols.  I' 

Indian  C;if(tivilirs 

Vovaire  (111  Pere  Munjuettc 

I'efation  do  (rnsin'sic 

I'uintiitn  (le  l;i  L()iii~i:iiie 

New  Discovery 

Vo  vji:rcs 

Travels 

Noticiiis  .\merlcaiui 

History  of  Siianish  America 

Travels  and  .Vdventurcs 

History  of  Oroton 

Histoire  des  Paroi.sses  do  Montreal 

Kfat  present  

Notes  siir  les  IJctristres  de  tinelx-c 

N(jtes  siir  i'Histdiro  du  Canad.i  de  lirassiur. 

Indian  Sketches 

Oreiron  Missions 

Voyiiv'e  au  ({rand  Dcl'sert  

Neutral  French  (Introduction) 

Missions  of  the  I'nited  Brethren 

Litters  of  an  AmericHU  rarmer 

History  of  the  Catholic  Cliurch  in  the  City  ( 
of  New  York.  \ 

Magnalia  Christi  Americana 

A  brief  Account  of,  iVo.,  of  the  S(»ci(,-ty  i>() 
Friends  for  the  Iinproviiuent  of  the  In-  v 
dian  Tribes.  S 


505 


PlBI.ISIIF.n. 


Washintrton,  l^o7. 
■Washinstoii.  1 -;)•.>. 
New  York,  ITiil. 

Albany,  1S12. 

Boston,  is.") I, 
Camb.,  1  >•-".'. 

Washington.  1  >*>•-'. 


Martin . . . . 
Champion . 
Sparks. ... 


Francis 

Shea 

Campbell 

Dubourg 

lhirnai» 

SpahlinR 

h.  S.  Cath.  Magazine. 

Oliver 

Marcoux 


i 


CI  a esse  . . 
Andrews . 
.Morgan  . . 
Maraga . . . 


Early  Catholic  Missions  in  Maryland 

Vie  de  la  Mere  Catherine 

Vie  de  la  M<>re  Marie  de  I'liicarnation 

Memoires  sur  Mgr.  de  Laval 

Viede  M.  Oiler.. 

Vie  de  Mar;;aret  Bourireoys 

Vie  de  Mme.  d' Youvillo .". 

Vie  do  Bressani 

Vic  du  P6rc  John  Bigoleu 

Life  of  Father  Marquette 

[Life  of  La  Salle 

Life  of  Father  Bale 

jLife  of  Father  Marquette 

Life  of  Archbishop  Carroll 

Life  of  Cardinal  Cheverus 

Life  of  Calvert 

Life  of  Bishop  Fhiu'ot 

Various  Lives  an(l  Sketcln-s  

Biography  of  the  Engliih,  Irish,  and  Scotuli  I 

Jesuits.  1 

Kaietonsera  lonterennalentakwa(Caughn). . 

lonteriwaienstakwa 

Xe  (trliyenirene,  Ac.  ( Mnhawk) 

Ne  yiisrawash  mvadewiLdiidseniire  (Mohawk) 

Seneca  Spellin:.'  BooV. 

Ananiie  *Iisinid 


ler  m. 


New  York,  18.M. 
New  York,  l^.-.J. 
Paris.  1f,91. 
Paris,  IC.'.M. 
.Amsterdam. 
La  Have.  1703. 
London,  1772. 
Madrid,  1772. 
London,  1742. 
New  York.  1S09. 
ISoston,  1^48. 
Montr(>al,  1^50. 
Paris,  Ui><S 
(iiiehcc,  1S.V1. 
(inehec,  IbM. 
Philadeli.hia,  1545. 
New  York,  IblT. 
Briix,.  l^oii. 
Providence,  1S41. 
I'hiladelphi.-^^  1S20. 
Dublin,  17>2. 

New  York,  185-".. 

London,  1702. 

London,  ls06. 

Baltimore,  1S47. 
Paris. 

Paris  1724. 
Col.,  1751. 
Paris,  1^48. 
Tours,  1S,V2. 
Tours,  18,52. 
Montreal.  1852. 
Lyons,  1739. 
Boston. 
Boston. 
Boston. 

New  York,  1852. 
Baltimore.  1846. 
Philadelphia,  1339. 
Boston,  1847. 
Louis.,  ls:V2. 
Baltimore,  1844. 

London,  Is 4.5. 

Montreal,  1S52. 
Montreal.  1^4-t. 
New  York.  ITCO. 
New  York.  17C,9. 
Butlalo  Creek.  1842. 
Detroit, 


506 


APPENDIX. 


Unpuhlislml  Works  to  which  I  have  had  access  through  the  kind- 
ness of  authors. 

Vlger Liste  Corrijrec, 

"      i't'tii  ri';;isirc,  in  4°,  avec  des  pravnres. 

"       Alhiiiii  (los  souvenirs  t'anndleii.". 

TftsrliProftti Mi-inoiie  siir  Ics  Missions  do  I'Acadie. 

M'jirt in Vie  (iu  IVto  Isivac  Jo-ruea. 

Vies  dos  I'eres  do  Nouo,  Gamier,  Gan-can,  Buteux. 

V 

Manuscripts. 

Kiilm Letter  of  September  16,  1699. 

I'errot  *. . . .   ,Ma-nrs  et  Coutumos  dea  Sauvagcs. 

Chaunionot Autobiotrrajdiie. 

.loiirnul  du  Superieur  de  la  Mission. 

Gamier Lettres. 

Jogucs Deseription  dn  Niow  Nederland. 

"     Notlee  siir  lienO  Ooni»ii. 

Buteux Narro  do  la  priso  du  Vi^ra  Jojrues. 

Eaffiicncau  -I  ^'^'""•'''*"^  toucliant  les  vertus  des  Pires  de  Jfou6,  Jogues, 

-  I      Daniel,  IJrobeuf,  LHlcMiiint,  (larnier  et  Cliabanel. 

Dablon Relations  de  la  Noiivelle  France,  H)72-.1. 

I>ablon Relations  de  la  Nouvelie  France,  1«7:J-1>. 

"      Relations  de  la  Nouvcllc  France,  1C76. 

"      Ktat  present,  1676. 

"     Circnlnr  on  tbo  death  of  Cliaumonot 

"      Circular  on  tlio  deatli  of  Gamier. 

"      Letters  and  sUitenients. 

Eemy Notice  sur  lea  Miracles  de  Catherine  Tehgsbkwita. 

Chaiichetitire Vic  de  Catlierine  Tebjttabkwita. 

Druilletes Narro  de  Voyatro  a  Boston. 

Bigot Relations  de'Sillery  et  de  St  Francois. 

Gravier Relations  de  rillinois. 

Archives  of  St.  Mary's  Colleeo,  MontrcaL 
Archives  of  tlie  Bure.nu  des  Terres. 
Arcliives  of  the  Notariat  of  Laprairie. 
Paris  Docuinents  at  Albany. 
I'aris  Documents  at  Boston. 

Bruyas Racines  Ajmi^res. 

"     Dictionnaire  Francais-Agnler. 

Villlers Journal  de  Campagne. 


Besides  Messrs.  Taschcreau,  Viger,  and  Martin,  I  am  indebted  to  the 
Abb6  Ferland  for  many  valuable  notes,  and  also  to  Fathers  do  Smet,  Bapst, 
Shoenmakers,  the  Kev.  Messrs.  Pierz  and  Bonduel,  the  V.  Rev.  Wm.  S. 
Murphy,  Bishop  Miegc,  and  Bishop  Baraga,  for  notices  of  missions  under 
their  charge.  The  manuscripts  are  almost  all  in  the  collection  of  Father 
Martin  and  the  Hon.  James  Vigor ;  those  of  Bruyas  being  in  the  hands  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Marcoux. 

To  them,  and  all  who  have  aided  my  researches,  I  here  return  my  warmest 
thanks. 


hronqh  the  kind- 


urcs. 
adiP. 
Oarrcau,  Buteux. 


i. 

on. 


Peres  do  Nou6.  Jognes, 
mi  IT  et  Cliabanel. 
1672-n. 
167:5-0. 
,  1C75. 

not 


rlne  Tehgahkwitft. 

ncois. 
^lontrcaL 

L'9. 

airie. 


im  indebted  to  the 
lers  do  Smet,  Bapst, 
ho  V.  Kcv.  Wm.  S. 
of  missions  under 
collection  of  Father 
ins  in  the  hands  of 

5  return  my  ■warmest 


INDEX. 


Abclla,F.  Ramon.  114. 

Abnaki  mission,  23, 129, 156,  WS. 

Aca;;clictnt>m  ln<iians,  9S. 

Acliionftcras,  John  B.,  221,  232. 

Acliiri;;()uans,  362. 

Aconm,  83. 

Adayo  mission,  86. 

Acs.  80. 

Agnier,  I,,e  Grand.    Sco  AVyn. 

Agr«-(la.  Maria  dc.  81. 

Aliiisistari,  Is;},  2o!>. 

Aircskoi,  211,266,276. 

Ako,  Madam*),  415. 

Alabama  mission,  50. 

Aliusapas,  86. 

Albanel.  F.  Cliarles,  371,  375. 

Aljror.quir.?,  2>   !-;i. 

Aiibamons  446,  45i). 

Alloiifz,  F.  Clninlo,  .S.J7,  .S73,  41.S. 

Altham,  F.  Joim,  1S4. 

Amantacba,  Loui.s.  172. 

America,  19,  i.'l,  2.3. 

Amicoues  mission,  .^fi."). 

Amurro,  F.  Gregory,  96,  109. 

Anacostans,  486. 

And'igoron,  2U9. 

Andastes,  24. 

Andre.  Louis,  36-3,  372. 

Anuneiation,  F.  D.  de  la,  60. 

Apaches,  »2. 

Apalache  mission,  72-3. 

Aquasasne,  346. 

Aquinas,  F.  Thoma"*,  88. 

Arbido,  F.  Martin,  82. 

Arbre  Croche,  384. 

Arenda,  182. 

Argal,  33. 

Arkansas  mission,  436,  446. 

Asao,  67. 

Ascension,  F.  Ant.  de  la,  88. 

Asinais  mission,  86,  441. 

AssHguinac,  385. 

Assendase,  268. 

Assiniboins,  24,  362. 

Assumption,  F.  And.  de  la,  88. 

Atimucas,  74. 

Atironta,   18A 

Attikamegues,  2X 

Attiwandaronk  mission,  170, 182,  284, 

Attontinon,  Sister  Mary,  810. 

Aubery,  F.  Jos.,  144, 152. 

Auguslinians,  23. 


Aufion.  F.  Michael  de,  M. 
Avila,  F.  Francis  do,  70. 
Axacan.  62. 
Ayavalla,  74. 


Badin,  J.  V.,  384. 
Badin,  Stejdien,  387, 402. 
Baez.  Autfustlne,  5H. 
Baiii<)(iiu-t.  F.  P.,  370. 
Baptisms,  293. 
Baraga,  Bishop,  388-401. 
Barranechc,  h.  John,  102. 
Bauohe,  Marchioness,  142. 
Baiidouin,  F.,  452. 
Bccancour  mission,  146-154. 
Beliamoiil,  Lord,  329. 
Bellecourt,  (J.  A.  de,  891. 
Belmont,  Francis  de,  310-335. 
Benavides.  F.,  80. 
Bergier,  John,  422. 
Besehef.r,  T.,  252-263. 
Betcta,  F.  Gregory,  47-51. 
Blard,  F.  Peter,  l.SO-4. 
Bigot,  Fathers,  142. 
Binnetcan,  F.,  144,  420. 
Biographical  sketches  of— 

F.  Claude  Alloue?.,  413. 

F.  Dominic  of  the  Anunc,  08, 

F.  John  Bapst,  498. 

Francis  do  Belmont,  335. 

John  Bergier,  422. 

F.  Gregory  de  Betcta,  62. 

F.  Peter  Blard,  im. 

Philip  Bouclier,  424. 

F.  John  do  Brebeuf;  190. 

F.  Francis  Bressani,  195. 

F.  James  Brnyas,  274. 

John  F.  Buisson,  444. 

F.  Joseph  le  Caron,  172. 

F.  Louis  Cancer,  89. 

F.  Stephen  de  Carhell,  289. 

F.  P.  M.  T.  Chaumonot,  197. 

F.  Nat.  Chabanel,  194. 

Card.  Chevcrus,  1.5*^. 

Francis  Clquanl,  157. 

B.  John  of  the  Cross,  48. 

F.  Claude  Dablon,  241. 

F.  Anth.  Daniel,  187. 

Anth.  Davion,  444» 

F.  Gab.  Druilletes,  141. 

G.  T.  Erborie,  424. 


It 


I 


If)   ' 
II  ! 


608 


F.  r.  M.  do  F'eriii,  52. 

N.  FoiKMiilt,   \\\>. 

F.  .laini'^  Fiiniin,  2i»J. 

y.  Kruiiiis  (iari'i's,  li>'.'. 

V.  Cluulis  (iiiiniir,  l!'3. 

F.  •luliaii  (iariiitT,  2U4. 

M.  A.  (Juiiliii,  44;<. 

F.  ilaiiicM  (IravU-r,  420, 

Kfiii-  (ioiipil,  'JIO. 

F.  Chris.  ll...'ckin,  479. 

F.  iMiac  .Joiiui'.H,  41)7. 

F.  tlolin.Iuaro/,  41. 

V.  Kiisfb.  Kuhii.  89. 

F.  (tab.  Lnli'inant,  191. 

F.  Francis  Lt<  Morcier.  241. 

F.  Simon  Le  Moyne.  170-2H. 

F.  I'eter  Martini;/,  TiO. 

F.  Knoin.  Ma^sc,  i;U. 

F.  .Jolm  do  Mfsa,  4»!. 

F.  Zon.  Mi'iiibrc,  4;i4. 

F.  IJoni'  Mi'iiard,  i\:>6. 

Fr.  ,1.  do  MnntiRny,  44^. 

F.  Marl;  of  Nic.-,  42. 

F.  Anne  de  Nouc,  170. 

v.  And.  de  Oimos,  4(). 

¥.  .lolin  do  Pftdilln,  44. 

U.  Jolui  do  I'alos,  41 

F.  Ant.  Pi-yri,  lid. 

F.  Peter  IJatJei.x,  294. 

F.  Paul  Ivayueneaii,  241. 

F.  Seb.  Kale,  151. 

F.  Oal)riel  de  la  IMbourde,  412. 

F.  Kali.il  Ki^'by,  494. 

B.  Aut,'.  IJodrigiiez,  78. 

F.  Jolm  K()j;er,  (35. 

F.  Dominic  tie  Saljvzar,  52. 

F.  John  B.  de  Segiira,  fi4. 

F.  Junijier  Serra,  91-102. 

Jolin  J).  Testu,  450. 

F.  C.  F.  Van  Quickenborne,  466. 

F.  And.  White,  494, 

F.  Zerbinati,  479. 
Blackfeet,  469. 
Blanehel,  Archbishop,  470. 
Boldiic.  Jolm  B.,  475. 
Bonduel,  Fl.  J.,  392. 
Boniface,  F.,  2(54,  371. 
Bonneault,  F.  P.,  870. 
Boulanfjer,  F.  J.  le,  427. 
Brebeuf,  John  de,  1(59-190,  809. 
Bres!«ani.  F.  J.,  1S5-212. 
Brock,  F.  John,  491. 
Bruillet,  J,  B.,  478. 
Bruyas,  F.  James.  254-430. 
Bneno,  F.  Sal  v.,  73. 
Buisson,  J.  F.,  440. 


Cabot,  F.,  111. 
Cacina,  78. 

Cailodachos  mission,  S4. 
Cahokla.  404,419. 
California  Indians,  24,  98. 
California  missions,  91. 
Caint.a,  F.  M.  de  la,  91. 
Cambon,  F.  Peter,  94. 


INDKX. 


Canasndncn.  f<41,  34i'. 

CanciT,  I'.  I.oiii.-*,  4tJ-8. 

('andalcni.s  ^;l. 

(':i|iii('liins  in  Acadia,  lo."» — Canada,  172 

Loui^ianii,  (-15. 
Carlnii.  V.  S.  de,  2.5(1,  2s7,  375. 
Carnu'lite.H,  'i\  ss. 
Carrii;:oulia,  170. 
Caiighnaw^rii  (N.  Y.V  2."jt>. 

(C:in.),  4:.s. 

Cayii^ra  mission,  21(2,  287. 
Cayu^e  mission,  47!S. 
Ceiiis.     Si'c  Atimtin, 
Cerda,  Perez  de  la,  72. 
Chalmnel,  I'.  Nat.,  1^.')-94. 
Cliarclon,  F.  John,  370,  423. 
Charles  X.,  34^5. 
Chasse,  V.  P.  de  In,   144. 
Cimtcliiin,  F..  17.'"). 
Clniiiinonof,  F.  P.,  1S0-9G. 
Cliej;oimei,'t»n,  .'!5S. 
(  hcrokiee  mission,  22,  58,  72. 
Clieveru.s,  Card.,  157. 
Cliieairo,  42s. 
Cbicldtfouek.s,  .308. 
Cliickiusaw  mission,  224,  441. 
Chiliatenhwa,  .Io.«.,  17S,  ls3. 
Cliiioniacon,  4V). 
Cliiii|ie\vays.    i?eo  Ojihicas. 
Chinook  mission,  470. 

Choctaw ,441-50. 

ClKilonek,  F.  Pete:,  29S, 

Clione,  leather,  391. 

Cibola,  41. 

Cieiiye  mission,  43. 

Cipias  mission,  81. 

Ciquard,  Francis,  157. 

Cisneros,  John  de,  78. 

Cocapo,  7'^. 

Coeliite.  S3. 

Cocos,  S(). 

Canirs-d'Alenes,  473. 

CollanI,  82. 

Comeyas  mission,  90. 

Conjrrepation  Sisters.  808-327. 

Conception  Imm.,  S'arioua  missions  of, 

101,   107,  175,  291,  405. 
Conception,    Immaculate,  Devotion   to, 

174,  1S3,  404,  5n5. 
Conestopue.s,  24,  287,  &c.,  4S6. 
Constantine,  F.  Nich.,  death  ofj  876. 
Cook,  Col.  Louis,  341. 
Coosa  mission,  24,51. 
Coroas,  442.  447. 
Coronado  K.xpedition.  42. 
Corpa,  F.  Peter  de,  06-8. 
Cortes,  F.  Hyacinth.  89. 
Creek  mission,  24-57. 
Crespi.  Father,  91-101. 
Cretin.  Bisliop,  400. 
Cruzado,  F.  Ant.,  95. 


Dablon,  F.  Claude,  222.  241,  -SCO,  365. 
Dakoto-s  21.   848,   mission  to,  i!55,  3("i2, 
809,  378,  4C5. 


w,. 

iiiu,  i;j:)— Cunudii,  na 

2iU»,  'JS7,  375. 


YX  '.'wt?. 

a-',  'JS7. 
47  \ 

;i,  7J. 
.,  1nV!)4. 
I,  !{7t),  4.>;{. 

In,   114. 

'.',  lSO-06. 
)8. 

.,  21,  53,  72. 
157. 

•iS. 

on,  224,  441. 

!«.,  17S,  ls8. 

e  OjUtuaa. 
,  47(». 
,441-50. 
t.'.%  'JK.S. 
391. 

143. 

157. 
7S. 


473. 

00. 

.rs.  30S-3-27. 
.,  Various  missions  of, 
»l,4(t5. 

naculate,  Devotion   to, 
'5. 

287,  &c.,  4S6. 
lich.,  death  oi;  376. 

341. 
,51. 

tion.  42. 
e.  fi6-3. 

til.  89. 

-57. 
1-101. 
00. 

95. 


0.  222.  241,  SCO,  365. 
niiftoion  to,  {.555,  3tV2, 


INDEX. 


509 


Diilliuti.  V.  .loMph.  H'9. 

Duiiu'l,  r.  .\iiili..  \l:i-<>. 

Dnvitm,  ,\iilli.,  4-'l-J4. 

|)a\ii«t,  1'.  .\inli ,  178. 

|)r  .1.1111,  Kiv.  Mr..  ;l»5-S. 

DiMiii'i'.'*,  I»i>iii>|),   ITti. 

DiinlliiT,   Ililiii.,  l(il. 

I>f  Soto,  41. 

D.NMillo,  IJov.  Mr.,  .nitC-9. 

i»o  Siiu'i,  1".  IVttr,  471. 

Do  Villo,  F.  Loui.s  423. 

Dlieii.  r.  Jimic's,  331. 

Dill/.,  F.,  s7. 

Diiiz,  F.  .lolin,  102. 

I)ii'i.'.>,  niMiop.  111-.3. 

Doiiiiniciins  in    Florida,    40-0— Alnbumn, 

5(1;  Virginia,  5.'>;  Calllornia,  95. 
Domii  s,  2(17. 
Doiiav,  F.  Anast..  438. 
Doutr.U-au,  F.,  42S. 
Doiiiraii,  (Jol.,  :U2. 
DriiillitfS,  F.  (Jal).,  1.3(1,  351,  370. 
])ti  lloiirg,  lJij>li<>p,  45.3. 
l)u  .Jaiinav,  F.  IVtcr,  377,  432. 
Duiiieiz,  F.  Friincis,  94. 
Dimioulin,  Mr.,  o91. 
l)ii|H'roii.  1'.  •)(>!*.,  2:iO. 
Diiran,  F.  Nnrci!*sus,  111. 
D'lirf.',  Mr.,  2>'3.  3(9. 
Dii  Thct,  B.,  132. 

Kknontonton,  3(V1. 

KM;;lisli  iDissioiis — Miirylanil  nnssiun,  481. 

Kiijalrai),  F.  .lolin,  371-5. 

Krborle,  G.  T.,  441. 

Kric,  IJisliop,  34. 

Fries,  24,  2()1. 

Kscalona,  F.  John  de,  79. 

Kscobar,  F.  Franc,  de,  HO. 

Kstt'iiopa,  F.  Thomas,  113. 

Etbarita,  192. 

Fcntlon,  Francis  de  S.,  254,  2S3. 

Fenwicli.  Bp.,  3s(). 

Firia,  F.  Pedro  do,  50. 

Ftrrcr,  F.  J(din,  49. 

Flathead  mission,  458,  466. 

Fleche,  Jesse,  129. 

Florida  missions,  46. 

Font,  F.,  99. 

Fortuni,  F.,  109-113. 

Foucault,  Nich.,  442. 

Fo.\  mii'sion,  !J(!2-374. 

Franciscans  in  New  Mexico.  41-44 — Texas, 

45;   Florida,  65.     See  Capuc/iina,  lie- 

c.oUectH. 
Frcmin,  F.  James.  252-261,  290. 
Frencli  missioii.s,  121. 

Ai.naki,  129-162. 

Huron,  16(>. 

Iroquois,  205. 

Ottowa,  34S. 

Illinois,  4(13. 

Louisiana,  435. 
Destructiou  of,  183,  146-9, 171. 


O!llif<t00,    *;.•<. 

(iarHla;;;ire.  2:!1.  2!M». 
(iiiiiiloiiL':irMc,  291. 
(tiiiidiielilriiKiiu.  291. 
(taiidawiiiriie.     Seo  <  'iiuy/nnt^coffa. 
(iitnutakleiiii,  Ciitli.,  2(il,  295. 
(i;lllnell^;l;.'^vn^,  Si>t(r  .Mary,  311,827. 
Oiinoiiakoii,  Stephen  te,  :!22. 

(rlliaeontii',   {►:illlel,   •.•42-2Ni. 

Garaconti.-   IF.,  2>(*). 
Garee^  F.  Francis,  102. 
Garcia,  F.  J<diii,  47. 

,  F.  Hart.,  ^7. 

(•arnier,  F.  Cliarlo.s  U.VlOa 

,  F.  .Julian,  2.'.9-aai. 

GaronhiaL'ue.  29H-318. 

Garroau.  F.  Leon,  1h4,  193,  23(j,  360. 

Gaulin,  .M.  A..  14.\44l. 

Georffia,  missions  in,  72. 

(lermain.  F.,  151. 

(iitmult,  Kev.   Mr.,  433. 

(toiocouell,  2">7. 

(Jomez,  F.  F..  91. 

(ionaiititenliii,  Frances,  825. 

Gon/.ale/.,  F..  111. 

(loiipil,  Itt.nu,  2(i7. 

(;ra\ier,  F.  .lames,  375,  414,  420. 

(freloii.  F.  A.'riaii,  19:i-,'.. 

(Jreeiiliind  mi»ions,  3^!. 

(ruadaloupe,  82. 

(illale.  5^,  M. 

Guerin,  Joiin,  •3.').''). 

(Juiiiiias,  F.  Louis  J.,  379. 

<iiiilu<os,  1(9. 

Guyenne,  F.F.  X.  de,  445. 


Havana,  School  at.  53. 

Hemes  mission,  80. 

lIoe<ken.  F.,  401,475. 

Holinnon.sionnI,  2u5. 

Holy  Family,  Devotion  to,  197,  869. 

Horeliouassi-,  2&9-313. 

Huron  Indians,  16.3-2<>4. 

mission,  103-191— On  St.  Joseph's 

Isle.  192 ;  at  Quebec,  lo4;  in  tlie  West, 

199— General  view,  195-204. 
Hvitramannaland,  33. 


Hionatiria.  173. 
Illinois  Indians,  .34S. 

mis>ion.  4(i3-85. 

Indian  tribe-s,  22-.'). 
Maimers,    43-129-163-481.    Bee  Lan- 
yuiigen. 
Irish,  :«. 

Irlaiid  it  mikla,  3.1. 
louskiousme  Indians.  109. 
Iroquois  mission,  205-348. 
Izqulerdo,  F.  Lojie,  SO. 
Isleta,  80. 


Jftyme,  F.  Louis,  94. 


510 


INDEX. 


i 


I  !      •  t 


.Tt«»iilt.*,  law  a^iUnsl,  !f.M>. 

J«>.Hiili  iMi>.'<liiht  ill  riiiriilii,  :<(\-»'tt;  (all- 
r.irniii.  v.t;  Mimif.  IJJ;  New  Vurk,  •ivU; 
Mlflii^Mii  unit  Wixi'oiiniii,  ills;  llliiiitl.s, 
4i):l;  ArktiiiMit  iiml  l.iMiioiiitni,  't'l') :  lii- 
<lliiii  IVnitory,  4w4;  (»i\>,'t)ii,  4titJ, 

•Ilciirlllii-*.  sj. 

.lotfn,..,  F.  I.MiHC.  175,319,  LSI,  t.H)0-17,4l>7. 

.loliii ,  HI. 

•IdIiii  of  tli(>  CroMs,  4-1. 

•Iiiliii  M.'irk,  7.'i. 

.Iimroz,  F.  .lolin,  40. 

•Iiiiiiuniw  Iiiiliuiis,  til. 


Kiilispols.  47a 

Kik|)|>ii.H,  '2t. 

Kll.skuHkill^  404-14. 

Kiiwiitwklits,  47.'». 

Kfclils,  KK 

Kt'iiiouclD'H,  :)(ll. 

Kikiipoos,  2:1,  :ti8  ;  mission,  4C4-S. 

Kilatak,  4fi4. 

Kltili«>r<>  Lnko,  287. 

KlotDiictoii,  2U. 

Klskiikons.  HoS,  370. 

Klalaiiis,  475. 

K<)nt«?nay.\  473. 

Koiidluronk,  202. 

Kryii,  271,  2'.W.  32ft. 

KtiliD,  F.  EuMib.,  89. 


La  Condro  Chaurtp.  29S. 
La  Combo,  Uov.  Alb.,  301. 
La  Croix,  Kev.,  454. 
LnKuna,  83. 

Lake  of  tlio  Two  Mountains— Iroquois  mis- 
sion, 332-84G;  Algic,  381. 
Lalandis  Jotin,  217. 
Lalen>ant,  F.  Charlos,  132-169. 

,  F.  Gab.,  188-91. 

.  F.  Jerome,  179-82. 

Lamborvllle,  F.  John  do,  282,  313-5. 

,  F.  James  do,  272,  331. 

Langlois,  Anthony,  475. 
Language  of— 

Abnakls,  137. 

Acaschemem,  90. 

Assiniboins,  478. 

Blaekfeot,  478. 

Caughnawagas,  345. 

Chocouy6,  109. 

Choctaws,  450. 

Comeyas,  92. 

Flatbow,  478. 

Flathead,  4CS. 

Gailacos,  100. 

Iliirons,  164 

Illinois,  415. 

Jouskioiism6,  100. 

Kechi,  109, 

Menomonees,  863. 

Mohawks,  210. 

DJibwa-s  350. 

OsHKC'S,  454. 


I.iniL'unjfi'  of— 

iMiawii".  ;i.V.). 

IViii|>-<rnr.'ill.',  4t;s. 

I'litt.iwiilaliiit"),  .'(ii3, 

HaiilH  riaru,   Imi. 

Han  Fcriiaiiilo,  loO. 

Han  Oiklirlrl,   liiO. 

Santa  liic/,.  ItiO. 

Si'111'can,  290. 

'r.-lanii.s,  9:1. 
La|i()jiit«>,  ;(.'iS. 
Ijt|irHiri(>,  3(M». 
La  Saili",  IJolH-rt  do,  81. 
LiLH  Ciksiis,  H|>.,  39. 
Laiivorunt,  F.  Hto|»licn,  144-53. 
I^izven,  F..  91-loS. 
Lo  Caron,  F.  Jos,  106-172. 
Lo  FratK-,  F.  Marin,  377. 
Lo  .MaJHtro,  .laiiios,  216. 
Lf  Moriior,  F.  Fri,  174,223,211. 
Lo  Morrior,  Mr,  427. 
Lo  Moyno.  F.  Simon,  170, 182,  223-41. 
Lo  Movno  {iloiiin),  234. 
Lonni  Ijonapo,  23. 
Loo  .\ II.,  343. 
Lotriido,  F.  John,  81. 
Link,  F.  Wono..  90. 
Louis,  F.  Niob,  26s,  .^.-iO. 
Lopoz,  F.,  SI. 

F,  Fnino,  77. 

I»rolto  Mission.  19s,  205. 
Loyard,  F.,  141  9. 
Lnna,  l>ou  T.  do,  .'>0. 
Lntz,  Kov.  J.  A..  4:)7. 
Lymoges,  F.  do,  420,  442. 

Macpftdobinasso,  Win.,  8'57. 
Maiiistio.  390. 
Manitoulino.  199. 
Marame;;^.  3(51. 
Miircoiix,  llov.  .1.,  313-5. 

Kov.  F..  316. 

Marcst,  F.  .1.  .1.,  876. 

F.  (Jab.,  378. 

Mareuil,  F.  Teter,  331. 

Marians,  1s:j. 

MarkofN'ico,  41. 

Marquette,  F.  James,  360,  201,  405,  485. 

407,  371,  408,  38;i 
Martin,  F.  Felix,  343. 
Martinez,  F.  Foli.x,  1 10. 

F.  Alonzo,  78. 

F.  Peter,  56. 

Martyrdom  of 

F.  Arbide,  82. 
Auflon,  69. 
Barraneclie,  102. 
IJrcbeuf,  190. 
Buis^on,  444. 
Cancer,  49. 
Chabanel,  194. 
Chefdeville,  434. 
Constantino,  376. 
Corpa,  67. 
Daniel,  187. 


84. 

jen,  144-B3. 

100-172. 
,  :U7. 
210. 

,  174,22^2J1. 
17. 

n,  179,192,223-41. 
284. 

il. 

,  X>9. 


S,  295. 

0. 
>7. 
I,  442. 


in.,  S'i?. 


J8-5. 
16. 


31. 


Ls,  360,  201,  405,  486, 
[3. 

[no. 

78. 
156. 


INDEX. 


511 


MArtvrilfim  of 
F.  "l)ia\  •»:. 

I  Ml    lli.t,    1:12. 
I'lMnii'^  ;{'.'.'». 
I''i>ucHiilt,  4  \'S. 
!•  ruii(l«iuii%  7 1,  7S. 
Onrci's,  HI'.'. 
(Jariil.-r,  lict. 

(ilMI|lll,   'J<i7. 

JiriivliT,  420. 

ilaviiio,  '.Hi. 

,I..L.Mi.-.H.  217. 

I..-  Clcrrq,  431. 

Lali'iiutiit,  191. 

Lot  rail.),  si. 

l.ii|MZ.  77. 

Muriiiicz,  .')0. 

Mcmhri',  4'i4. 

Menard,  JJ.MJ. 

ra<lilla,  4;<. 

I'd'ialo.sii,  47. 

PoisHon,  44s. 

Quiros,  04. 

iCulo,  IMi. 

IMhourdc,  412. 

l:(iiliii;iU'Z,  0(3. 

Hctfiini,  ti-l. 

Hfiiat,  431. 

Hoiiel,  44H. 

Hte|.ii.!n,  322. 

TtMii,  4.")0. 

Vfla.s('i.lii,  70. 

Viil,  ItW. 
Maryland  mission,  48.3-!)4. 
Ma>c'<>iitL'ns  ini>.Hiiin,  31'5,  30.J. 
Ma>si)  KncMi.,  13(t,  109. 
Malacviiiiba  Key.  73. 
Maz/.uclu'lli,  F.,  3s7. 
McDonnell,  Kod.,  312. 
Mi'dctktek  mission,  113. 
Mflierrin,  24. 
Meia-sliwnt,  (lis.,  130. 
M.leiidez,  IVdro.  53  C5. 
Mt'iiihrc,  ZenohiiLS,  411-37. 
Mt'iiibertoii,  13(». 
MtMiii,  IJ.  Marli  <le,  49. 
Minnrrl,  F.  Ueno,  2(li).  232,  352. 
Mi'nclioro,  F.  John,  S3. 
Mcndoza,  Francis  53. 
Menoinont'o  mission,  3.37,  342,  392. 
Menus,  Don  Solis  de,  ."iil 
.Mermet,  F.  .lamos,  421. 
Mesa,  .lolin  de,  4.'). 
Metelii;rnmoas,  420,  430. 
Metiio<list  mis.sion,  310. 
Miami.s  348,  305,  40.'i. 
Micliillmaokinac,  199. 
Micmacs,  2-3. 130. 
Milet,  F.  Peter,  260-77,  819. 
Mi-islons — 
Oeiicrall)-,  23. 
Norwegian,  3S. 
Spnnisli,  37. 
French,  121. 
Knglisli,  431. 
Miwions,  Seminary  of,  439. 


Mi'Monarlc*.  List  of,  499. 
.Mh.si.iirJH,  •>ti. 
Mix'I'iii.'Uit*,  ;I0I  -o, 
M..l.ili.»n>,  '.'2. 

.M<>|iHwlv>t,  mivtion.i  to,  215-254. 
.Mii||c;,MII-*,  'j;{. 
.Mulder,  F.  «Mrva.Ho,  200. 
M.inll;iiiv.  Fniiiiis.l.,  421-39. 
Moreiia,"F.  .Maltli.w,  Inj. 
Mount  Carmel  mi^r^ion,  99. 
.Mnik,  Krv.  II'.,  WO. 
.Miit'iirte:.'iii,  F.,  Os. 
.Murmiiu,  F.,  99. 


Nac(iLrd<ifhes  ndaslon,  1^6. 

Namlie,  ^3. 

Narrayanselts,  23. 

Narvae/,  I'aiidllo,  39. 

Natelie/.  missi.iii,  4-10-S. 

>.avajoes  mis.si  ill,  S2.  ' 

Xa/on("«  mis!«ii  II,  sti. 

Ni'iitriil  liis.sjon,  'I'M. 

New  .Me.vlcan  mi»ion.  41-4. 

N'  wporf    lliolu.s  at,  34. 

Ne/.jierctrt,  473. 

Nliii>-    -'H,  ;!.')9. 

Noi|iiei  iNlaiid.  'J  •■. 

Nor\vei.'iaii  miv>l   1    .  33. 

N<.rridL'ewalk  •  ■!■  •*io(i,  137-^3. 

Notre  Dame  d  ;  Foyo,  19*.    "70. 

Nott .  V,:'  s  21. 

Noi->,  !•.    \lilie  de,   109-VO. 

Nou   el,  1     Henry.  :!O.Vs. 

N.i'^tru  .Seiiora  fie  (iiiadaliipo,  86. 

— ,l,.l  iMJar,  s7. 

de  Solednd,   107. 

la  Kedonda,  S2. 


Ofa-,   1'  is.   117. 

(•jihwas,  ;Ui-391. 

( >kiiiakaries,  474.  " 

<>livi^  F.  Vicente,  11.3. 

(Miiios,  I'.  AiKlrew  de,  45. 

Onat.,  .lolili    le.  Ts. 

Oiieida  mi^•^iMn,  'J34-277. 

« )niionoiiarola,  22)i. 

Onuntare.  2s7. 

Onondaga  mis>ion,  220-238,  259-277. 

Ore,  F.  Luis  I.  de.  71. 

Ore;;on  Inilians,  24. 

-nii.-siou,  4*ki. 

Ore  Jones,  sij. 

OrJHte,  50. 

Orleans  mission,  196. 

Orono,  150. 

Osai;es— sO  mission,  464. 

Ospa  mis.sion.  67.  >;■ 

Ossossane.  175. 

Oswpiratcliio,  33(!.  o 

Ottawa  mission.  34S-S4 

Oueliibo\U'C.     (See  Ojibwa.) 

Oiima  mis-sion.  42(1. 

Ourehoiiare,  ;!2:5-0. 

Outagaiiils.    Crmo  Foxefl.) 


612 


INDEX. 


Oiitrolinntl,  2Jfi. 
Owc-nagungas,  129. 


I'aco.'is,  St;. 
I'iulillii,  r.  Jolin,  43. 
Padroii,  1'.  All;;.,  SO. 
I'aliwitingiliicliirini,  862. 
IVialiitos.  8(5. 
I'linawaniiike,  113. 
i'ari'ja,  V.  Finn<-is,  C7. 
I'arron,  F.  Fcril.  91. 
I'asii,  ^.i. 

l'assaina<iuo(l(lics,  102. 
I'atiTiia.  F.  Ant,  1)5. 
I'atnxi'iitx,  48r>. 
l'au^iaIU'8,  S(i. 
I'aycras,  F.  Mariano,  109. 
IVh'os  ini'sion,  4-"),  s(t-3. 
I'fciiriis  mission,  s;j. 
Piinado.  F.  Alonzo.  SO. 
I'l'iiibina  mission,  890. 
IVfia.  F..  !i!>. 
I'lnalosa,  F.  Dicjro,  47. 
l'tni)l>sc(it  mission,  14^},  ICl, 
Peoria  mission.  404-14,  4'Ji'. 
I'tpijiokia  mission,  404. 
I'fijinxls,  '2:!. 
I't'i-alla,  (iaston  de,  SO. 
I'or.lomo.  F.  Dlc'.'o,  GO,  80. 
i'lTiot.  Nicii..  :!7I. 
IMit,  15.  M  ,  :«t7-s. 

F.  Loui.s  4.")0. 

I'etitliommo.  Mr.,  101. 
I'l-tlot,  Mr,  ;J99. 
IVtiins.  Kit),  179.  194. 
Foyri.  F.  Ant.,  107-110. 
I'liiiolosiists— 

Jlar!l;.'|^  401. 

Koiiianfier,  427. 

l'>reboiit;  172. 

liniyas,  274. 

(Ihimiionot.  19(\, 

Demilier,  101. 

Doiii.  (te  la  Aniin.,  53. 

Feriii,  52. 

Marcoux,  345. 

t)linos,  40. 

Parcja,  OS. 

Kalo,  14S. 
Piankcsliaws,  404. 
Pie|)iisian  mission,  101. 
1'icra.s  F.  Mich.,  91. 
[•i.'i-son,  F.  Phil.,  370.  374. 
Pierz,  Ucv.  F.,  3S9. 
Pijart,  F.  Claude,  182. 
Pilabo,  80. 
Plinos  mission,  R9. 
Pinet,  F.  FrancK  420. 
PIscataways,  4So. 
Poisson.  I<.  du,  44''. 
Point,  F.  Nich.,  471. 
Pointed  Hearts,  473. 
Pokecan.  S93. 
Poiicet,  F.  Jo.sepli,  ISO. 
Poller,  F.  P.,  37S. 


Potrinconrt,  130. 
Poiilaiii.  F.  Wm.,  167. 
Powlmtans,  23. 
I'rado.  F.  -losi-i.li,  S7. 
Prouix.  Kfv.  Mr.,  391. 
Puel)lo  Indians,  S3. 

Pottawotanii  mission,  862,876,428,887, 
400,  89S. 


Qiia|iaws.  4,10. 

t^iientin,  F.,  \i]2. 

(iiieret,  sO. 

(iiurc  dc  Tre^'tiron,  328. 

Quinte  mission,  252-4,  308-9. 

(^iiiros,  F.  Louis,  02-4. 

Qulviia  mission,  42-3k 


Katleix,  F.  Peter,  252,  202,  2S8,  296. 

Paireot,  Mr.,  145. 

IJaiTueneau,  F.  P.,  230-41. 

Pale,  F.  Sehast.  414.  144-151, 160. 

Paymhaut,  F.  flias.,  lyi.  ;^9. 

Keeolleets   in   Canada,   124;    in   Acadia, 

135;  Qninte,  309;  Illinois,  411. 
Kedemptoiists — 

Mission  in  Micliigan,  388. 
PLelij.'ion  of  Indians,  25. 

New  Mexico,  73. 

('alilbrnia,  99. 

Iliirons,  108. 

IJeli-rious  Orders,  28. 
IJenssalaerswyek,  211. 
Pvez-.  IMsliop,  3S1-93. 
i:il.i>.:.de,  F.  (Jab.,  412. 
Pichor,  F.  Peter,  199. 
IJichard,  Oahriel,  3S2. 
Pivot.  Rev.  Mr..  43;». 
Itodri;;ue/,,  H.  Aug.,  79k 

F.  Bias.,  6S. 

Kojrer,  I**.  John,  5.'). 
Pomagne,  IJov.,  157. 
Poupe.  liev.  J.  B.,  842. 


Snehiendowaii,  260. 
Sac  Indians.  23,  302. 
Sasard.  B.  Gab.,  167. 
Salas,  F..  80. 
Salazar,  F.  Christ,  de,  79. 

F.  Dom.  de,  57. 

Salvatierra,  F.,  90. 

Sanchez,  F.,  110. 

Saiiilrel.  F.  Simon.  8SS. 

Saonchlosfwan,  243-51,  289. 

Sarria,  F.,  113. 

Sanlteurs.     (See  Ojlbways.) 

Sault  an  Uecollet.  328. 

Scanonaenrat,  179. 

Selia.*tlan.  F.,  135. 

Sedofio.  F.  Ant.,  5S. 

Se-rura,  F.  .1.  H..  5S. 

Senat,  F..  431. 

St-neea  mission,  232.  201,  290. 


167. 

87. 

ion,  862,  876,  428,  887, 


1,  328. 
.2-4, 308-9. 
V>-4. 
2-& 


252,  2C2,  2S8,  296. 

23(M1. 

14,  144-161, 160. 
IS.,  lyi,  :{49. 

I  ad  a.  124;   in  Acadia, 
>;  IDinuis,  411. 

igan,  3S8. 

s,  2r.. 

tlcxico,  7S. 
Ilia,  99. 

15,  loa 

28, 
1211. 

!>:?. 

412. 

»S>. 

«S2. 

». 

7a 

68. 


57. 
842. 


C7. 


de,  79. 
I,  57. 


883. 
-51,  289. 

(ibways.) 
328. 


2.  201,  290. 


INDEX. 


513 


pnpcn.  80. 
Strra.  F.  .Iiinip..  ;>1-I02. 
Serrano,  F.  Aloiizo,  71. 
Sevillota.  ■^••. 
Sliawiiovs,  "j:?. 
t^iief»>vjj;iin.  ;!00. 
Slinyt'lpes  474. 
Sillory.  l;i.Y 
Siivy,  F.  Ant,,  .'{71. 
Siiium,  F..  14:5. 
Siiiiitfos  inission,  85"^. 
SirriiMc,  F.  .laiiu'S,  IM. 
Sidtix.     (SiH'  Dakota.) 
."^itjar.  F.  Boimv.,  \>3. 
fl.I'iu.s  v.,  (i(». 
Sulpitian  mis-sions,  254, 
Skanil«irorh:tli.>*en.  302. 
Skolla,  F.  Otto,  -MO. 
.""•(corro,  so-:i. 
S>i'iirese,  '277. 
8okoki»,  23. 
f»oiiicr.%  F.  Anc.,  94. 
t<ouel,  F.,  445-s. 
Source,  Doin.  T.  do  hi,  427. 
Souriqiiois,  'i-S. 
Spanisli  missions — 

Florida,  39-46,  r>3. 

New  Mexico,  41,  76. 

Texas,  45,  84. 

Alabama,  5(i. 

California,  88. 
St  Ana  mission,  83. 
San  Antonio,  93. 
St.  Barbara,  9.5-107. 
St.  Bonaventure,  95. 
San  Carlos,  92. 
SanU  Clara  (Cal.\  99 

(N.  M  ),  83. 

Santa  Cruz  (N.  M.),  S3. 


107. 


San  Diego,  92-6. 

St.  Esprit,  3.'vV60. 

St.  Franci.s  SO. 

San  Francisco,  99. 

SL  F.  Xavier  des  pr«^s,  296. 

de  la  baic,  315-71. 

St  F.  Regi^  3;W-4.-i. 

S.-in  Fernando,  107. 

St.  Francis  de  Saks,  142-154. 

St.  Francisco  Solano,  109. 

St  Gabriel,  94. 

167. 

St  Helena,  58. 

St  Ignatius,  364-70. 
179-186. 

477. 

St  Ildefonsn,  8;J. 
St  James,  867. 

St  John  Baptist,  185-192. 

St  John's  (PetnnX  192. 

St  John,  18'2. 

San  Juan  Capistrano,  96. 

San  Juan.  &'2. 

St.  JosonhX  423. 

San  Jose.  Itt7. 

St  Joseph,  173-8. 

22* 


St  Joseph's  Isle.  102-4 

:i7.Vl»;j. 

4-'3. 

San  l.,nis  «)bi^po,  0.5. 
St  I.oiii.s  (Siiiiit),  304. 
St.  I.ortllZK,   ^3. 
St.  Luis  llty,  lti7. 
St  Murk,  :"th). 
St  .Mary  (Sault),  184,361. 
St  .Mary's  ((Janen.),  "228. 
SUi.  Maria  .Fuaii  de,  77. 
St  Mary's  (Mcdiawk),  '253. 

HI -92. 

471. 

St  Mi-iul,  l(t7. 

San  I'edro,  k2. 

St.  IVier  ami  I'aiil,  101. 

St  P.ter's  I>.le,  (57. 

San  IJafiu'l,   !(•'.». 

St.  SaviorX  13'2. 

San  Salvador. 

St  Sitiion.  '•U')'). 

St.  Stani>iaus,  463. 

St.  Theresa,  3.53. 


Taenhatentaron,  179. 

Tatfaretwan,  317. 

Taos,  s(». 

Taenz;u«,  440. 

Tanos,  sO. 

Tainaroa.  419. 

Tarhell  Family,  332-9. 

Tarantec  s,  120 

Te>;ani.ssorens,  3,32. 

Teananstavae,  174. 

Teiami.s  93. 

Teoas,  so. 

Teh^ahkvvita,  Cath.,  272,  304-7,  348. 

Tehoronhioiico,  F.,  279,  291,  320. 

Texas  mission,  5:4. 

Tezuque,  83. 

Thet,  G.  du,  131. 

Tlmry,  Kev.  I»etcr,  143. 

Tilly  ay  as,  86. 

Tonicius  440. 

Topiras,  80. 

Tocachin,  Ign.,  295. 

Tionontates,  23. 

Topoqutr  68. 

Toienuito,  67. 

Topiras,  80. 

Toanche,  17-3. 

Tsawente,  Mary,  295. 

Trouve,  .M.  CI.,  '254. 

Tiiscarora-s  24. 

Tutoloes,  y4. 


Van  Curler  Arendt.  209. 

\andenbroeck.  lie  v.  F.,  392. 

Van  Paeinel,  Kev.  Ang.,  390. 

Van  Quickcnborne,  F.  Ch.  Felix,  455-61. 

Var  Ambrose,  156. 

Vnillant.  F.,  274,  .'Wl. 

Varlet,  Dom,  M.,  424. 


614 


INDEX. 


Vclascolo,  F.,  00-70. 
VillHreal,  B.,  ftO. 
Virginia  missions,  f>r)-63. 
ViiT,  F.  NIch.,  107-9. 
VlRnnl,  llcv.  Wni.,  '240. 
VivuWli,  Cnnon,  400. 
Vizcaino,  F.  .John,  91-2. 
Vinland  mission,  H4. 
Vlszogsky,  IJcv.  Mr.,  8S9, 402. 


Wpa.<t,  204,  307,  460. 
\Von«lat,  or  Wyandot,  208. 
Williams,  Kunico,  *i2-&. 

Kleazar,  H32-46. 

Thomss,  841. 


(Sec  Huron.) 


AVinnebnRoos  mission,  349,  862,  374, 89& 
Wye  Klver,  Isl. 

Yamassees  mission,  07. 
Yazoos  mission,  446. 
Yumas  mission,  101. 


Zalvidea,  F.  Jos^,  112. 
Zamorro,  Francis,  80 
Zcrbinatl,  F.,  476. 
Zla,  S3. 

Zingomcnos,  447. 
Zunl,  41,  82. 


ssion,  849,  862,  374, 898. 


gP- 


COPY  OF  A  LETTEB 

gtMinjiiinainci  ir  <Soli)  }l\tM  sent  bit  \k  |i)oli|  latljct 
TO  EDWARD  DUNIGAN  &  BROTJIEH. 


•ig 


-♦••- 


Must  worth//  and  respected  Uenfhmcn  : — 

>'<it)ir  booAs,  2vhich,  as  it  appeared  htj  your  most  eour- 
feoKS  letter,  you  ivished  to  offer  to  our  7uost  hohj  Lfnd  Pope 
Plus  IX,,  have  been  hitely  Jianded  to  him.  This  act  on 
your  part  roiihl  not  but  phase  his  Holiness,  and  t)ie  zeal 
you  consfiintly  show  by  the  jndAication  of  works  in  defence 
and  protect  ion  of  tJtc  cause  of  tlte  Catholic  Religion,  gives 
him  great  joy. 

The  Sovereigrt  Pontiff,  therefore,  leith,  great  2il('(if^nrc 
encourages  you  in  your  course  by  this  letter,  and  returns 
you  his  tJianks  for  the  gift  ichieli  you  offer. 

I  am,  moreover,  ordered  to  transmit  a  gold  medal  ivJiich 
the  same  benign  Pontiff  sends,  impressed  uith  his  august 
effgy,  atid  with  t/,  as  a  jiledgc  of  liis  paternal  and  especial 
affection  towards  you,  his  Apostolic  blessing,  which,  as  an 
ausjnce  of  all  heavenly  good,  he  lovingly  grants  you  loith 
the  most  sincere  affection  of  his  heart. 

I  have  only  to  profess  my  respects  to  you,  Gentlemen, 
on  whom  I  earnestly  imi)lorc  all  that  is  savi7ig  and  pro- 
pitious from  our  Lord. 

Gentlemen, 

Your  most  humble  and, obedient  Servant, 
DOMINIC  FIORAMONTI, 

Rome,  July  Qth,  1853.  Latin  Secretary  to  his  Ilolinrss. 

To  E.  DUNIOAN  db  BROTHER,  New  York. 


DUNIGAN  &  BROTHER'S 

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<: 


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I 

'I 

1:1 

i 

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I' 

i 


',« 


1 


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LI  BOOKS, 

n.lings.    With 

D  .  D  . , 


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8S 

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68 

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ype.     32mo. 
'.    I  50 

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50 

3S 

..' 25 

Catholic  Devo- 

Mass.    32ino. 

....  1  60 

es 1  25 

....  1  00 

tcs 63 

50 

31 

25 

19 

ChiUVs  Prayer 

rning  and  evening 
espers.  Instructions 
d  would  deiiglit  in. 

....  125 
83 
83 

25 

19 

est  size  Prayer 

12J 

19 

25 

76 

et  Prayer  for 

12* 

25 


EDWARD  DUNKrAN  k  l^KOTIIEU, 

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Turkey  moroeeo,  siipcj;.  extra,  tine  [ilates 

DAS 


yinn 

ies.  in 

ist  ap- 

eoia- 

374 
50 
C3 
75 
SS 
1  75 


PATIADIKS   (iAini.KlX.     Now    Gcniiivn    Prayer    IJook, 

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Ameriean  moroeeo,  full  piU  sides  and  edpcs 50 

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Turkey  moroeeo,  gilt  sides  and  ed;,'e3 1  00 

L'AmiE  COXnrCTErR.     2-Uno. 

This  Now  and  Ueautiftil  Freiieh  I'niyer  Hook  is  considered  one  of  tlic  best  and  most 
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American  morocco,  gilt  edires  and  elasp,  6  plates 8S 

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American  morocco,  gilt  edire.s,  4  plates 63 

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Ivoan  morocco,  1  plate 38 

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Fublish 

and 

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Amorican  morocco,  gilt  edaes  and  sides 1  00 

American  morocco,  gilt  sides  4  platea "^^        i 

Roan  morocco,  1  plat« 66 


isheil  with  the  approbation  of  Right  Rev.  Ilisnop  Alkmanv,  Bishop  of  California 
[id  ^fonterey.     \\  ith  36  wood  cut  Illustrations  of  the  Holy  Sacriflce  of  the  Mass, 


I:,  i 

!'  1 


IJKAUTIKUL  (iirr  liOOKS  FOR  ALL  SEASONS. 


LIFE    OF    MliS.    KIJ/A    A.  SKToN,  Foimdiv-s  juid    First   Su- 

porior  of  llio  Si>ti'rs  <>r  l>;m::litiTs  of  Clmrity  in  llic  riiiti'<l  St.itc.H  of  Atupricn, 
Willi  Coploiis  Kxtriicts  from  luT  Writings,  iiiiil  an  Historical  Skcicli  of  tlie  Si>ti'r- 
liood.  Iiiiii)  its  Origin  to  tlic  rrc.-int  'lime.  I!y  tin-  llfV.  <'iiai!I.i;,s  1,  Wiiitk,  I>.  J). 
Ill  one  cIcL'aiitiy  |>riiit('<I  vuliimf,  of  iit'arly  (!iHt  pa>;i-s,  smitll  octavo;  witli  ti  beuiitiful 
lilc-lii;o  I'orlrall,  cnyruvcil  in  iho  most  I'Mpiisito  stylo  of  tlio  art. 

IlaiKlsojiie  cloth  liliuli'.'^',  line  portrait 1  75 

Do.  do.  Kilt  siiiis 2  00 

I  )o.  do.  full  gilt  ft\ii\in  and  sides 2  50 

Tills  j\M>%i  Imjiortant  Contrilmtion  to  .\incrlcnn  Catlioilc  Litcratiiri'.  contnir'  not 
only  a  most  intensely  inti'ivstini:  Uloirrapliy  of  oiu'  of  tin-  most  Itcmarknljlo  Women  of 
the  av'L'  in  wliicli  slic  lived,  Imt  also  an  autlientie  History  of  timt  lavaliiablc  Kt'licioiw 
Society  wliosc  inlliience  and  deeds  arc  lieyoiid  worldly  praise. 

THE  fJLOlilFS  OF  MAKY.     Tninslatod  fniin  tlic  Itiilliin  of  St. 

Aliilionsns  M.  IJu'imri.  I'lider  tlio  direction  of  llii-  Itedemptor.st  Kutliors  of  the 
('oii;;re;;iitioii  of  tlie  Holy  i:e<leefiiir,  Willi  tlie  approliatioii  of  the  most  Itev.  Arch- 
bisliopof  New-York.     ()iie  volume,  Itimo.  nearly  700  jiaKcs. 

llandstiine  cloth  hindinir.  full  srllt  cdu'es,  2  plates 1  50 

Do.  do.  K'lt  back,  1  plate 100 

Do.  do.  ]  i)lato 0  75 

This  new  edition  of  the  "Glories  of  Mary,"  translated  under  tho  direction  of  the 
Heflemptorist  I'athers,  is  tlie  first  complete  translation  that  has  ever  Ik-ch  made  into 
the  l^n^'lisli  lanp;uage  of  that  most  lieaiilil'iii  book.  Asa  iii.'\niial  of  devotion  for  tho  use 
of  Callmlics.  it  is  one  of  I  lie  most  admirable  books  over  writti'ii ;  its  simplicity,  Its  fer- 
vor, its  lucid  arrangement,  examples,  and  its  beautiful  ami  comprclicnsive  prayers,  must 
make  It  u  great  favorite. 

Tlie  Louilon  7'i  i  hltt  snys:  "A  ninirnilicont  edition,  which  certainly  docs  great  credit 
to  the  well-known  Catholic  linn  in  New- York,  who  liave  brought  It  out.'' 

The  JiroioiHOii  lieview  says:  "  A  very  beautiful  edition  of  one  of  liie  sweetest  nncl 
most  admired  of  the  Devotional  \Vorks  of  that  groat  .saint,  M.  Alplion-us  Liguorl,  Tho 
translation  lias  been  made  by  one  that  Is  abundantly  able  to  du  It  faitlifully,  tastefully, 
and  etlectuallv." 

Tho  .\ficYitrk  Freemaii'a  Journal  snya:  "Tho  most  beautiful  Book  of  Devotion 
In  the  Knglish  hinguage." 

Tho  Boston  J'ilot  says :   "  One  of  tho  best  Devotional  Books  ever  written." 

LIFE  OF  THE  BLESSED  V^UTI^^  MARY,  MOTHER  OF  (;0D. 

Taken  ft-oni  tlie  Traditions  of  tlio  East,  tlio  Manners  of  the  I.srnelitea,  and  tho 
Writings  of  the  Holy  Fathers.  From  the  French  of  M.  L'Auiik  Oksim,  by  the 
IJov.  1'atkick  Powku,  D.  I>.     ICmo. 

Cloth  binding,  1  fine  engraving 0  60 

Do.  gilt  edges,  4  plates 1  00 

Do.         full  gilt  edges  and  sides,  6  fine  plates 1  60 

This  translation  from  the  French  of  the  Abbe  Orslnl,  who  collected  his  facts  from 
traililions  of  tlie  Fast,  tlie  manners  of  the  Israelites,  and  tho  writings  of  the  Holy 
Fathers.  Is  written  in  a  peculiarly  graceful  ami  felicitous  style.  The  most  prominent 
events  in  the  life  of  the  Ble.sscd  Virgin  ;  her  seclusion  In  tho  gorgeous  templo  of  Solo- 
mon ;  her  laborious  life  in  the  jiicturesquo  village  of  Nazareth  ;  her  .sufferings  on  Cal- 
vary ;  her  wanderings  with  St.  tlolin,  and  death  at  Ephesus,  are  brought  before  tlie  mind 
with  more  than  the  vividness  of  painting. 

The  Cluirlettton  Catholic  Misc/'tldn;/  says:  "Tills  Is  truly  a  beautiful  book." 

TUii  Loudon  Tiihletsnv^:  "Tliis  is  an  opiiorlune  book,  wliicli  has  given  us  much 
pleasure.  It  convevs  a  holy  and  lovely  lde;i,  and  we  can  bo  coi  tain  that  somo  such  life 
as  tills  the  Blos.sed  V'irgln  must  liave  Ivd  according  to  tho  circumstances  related  of  her 
by  a  const.int  and  harmonious  tradition." 

Tiic  London  Jiamhlcr  says:  "This  is  a  work  of  Etiropean  reputation,  and  has  re- 
ceived tho  liighest  tcstimoniu  s  of  approbation  from  authorized  judges." 


I 

J: 

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PUBLISHED  WY  DUNIGAN  k  BROTHER. 


i^I^d 


11(1    First  Su- 

;ilf!<  (»f  Aiiiprirn, 
tell  of  tlic  SiMor- 
s  1.  WiirrK,  1>.  J>. 
i:  williiibi-iuitiful 


1  75 
•2  (Mt 

2  50 


ituro.  contnir'  not 
irkubU'  Wonu'ii  of 


Itnliiiii  of  St. 
r.st  Fiitliers  of  the 
a  most  Uev.  Arcli- 


1  50 
1  00 
0  75 


10  direction  of  tlie 
cr  ln'cn  inado  into 

evotion  for  tlio  use 
slniplifity,  its  f«r- 

n.-^ivi'  i»niycr!>,  must 

ily  (Iocs  great  credit 

lout."' 

)f  ilie  sweetest  and 

MIS  Lifjuorl    The 

iijtiifully,  tastefully, 

Bool;  of  Devotion 

r  written." 

ER  OF  (iOD. 

Israelites,  and  tho 
BE  0R6INI,  by  the 


0  50 

1  00 
1  50 


■ted  his  facts  from 
ilings  of  the  Holy 
jc  most  prominent 
us  temple  of  Solo- 
sufferings  on  t'al- 
l^ht  before  the  mind 

beautiful  book." 
as  given  us  much 
liat  somo  such  life 
ices  related  of  her 

tatlon,  and  has  re- 


TIIE  MOST  COMPIiKHEX^IVE  CAT/fOLW  HYMXIiOOK 
IX  Till-:  h'Xf'  L  IS  1 1  J. .  I  X(;l  \  I  (1 E. 

\X\\\  (  .\TIlOI.I('.\.     CniiiiiiniiiL'  all  flu-  nyiiiiH  of  iju-  Kom.-in. 

Hrevliiry  ami  Mi-v*iil.  witli  others  tVcuii  vnii'iiis  Sourrts ;  nrian^cd  for  oxcry  I);iy  in 
t!u'  Wei',.  ;iiiii  iIk-  l'c'tival>  iinil  SiiIth-"  ]>;iys  ilirontrhoiit  \\w  ViMr.  AVliii  a  Si-  <c- 
lion  of  llyMiii>,  .\iili«i'iii»,  ami  J'acruil  i'oclry,  from  n|i[irovi'i|  r^ource?'.  ItJtiio. 
570  p:iL'i-. 

Tho  f.ouihm  Titf'l^t  s.iys :  '•  .\s  a  composition,  otu-  of  l!io  mo:*t  perfc-t  specimens  of 
ti'iiiolatiiut  in  tlie  Kiiiflisli  lansuaso,  and  •■xcriieiitly  ailapti'ii  to  lii'votioiial  |iurpos<'«." 

T\\i^  /'ittf'iiii'i/  Ciit/iolii:  fi\\-<:  "  \  hool;  wli'uli  rviry  ralholii-  will  wcloonic  witli 
di'liirtit,  as  stiiiplyinir  a  want  wliirh  we  havf  Iohl'  r.lt." 

The  Ciithilii'  Ihrtdil  says:  *■  .Mtou'ctluT  hy  far  Ihc  hct  and  most  complete  collec- 
tion of  n-nily  Catliolii-  I'oftry,  that  ha-  yet  appiarnl  aitioiu'^i  n>."' 

Tui'  Ciit/iolir  In.sfriiit'ir  *A\>:  ••  llii«  tMilltiii  ami  piiMical  translation  affords  to 
tlio  l.aity  tlic  happln>'«'4  of  daily  uiiiiing  witii  thi-  ('l('r;.'y  of  the  ('iiuri''i,  in  an  important 
portion  of  hi-r  aiTc|ir;iliU'  ^rrv  ice." 

'lUi'  .\'fir-  y,ii-/,-  I '<ii4i  in-  iiii't  Riiijith-f  ■  *\\\'.\  "'I'liis  t'icL'aiit  volniiie  cotit.'dns  all 
the  Hymn-  of  tin-  Koiii:in  Uic.  ia.y  an>l  Mi"-;!!,  and  uiil  supply  a  want  Uiw^  ffll  liy  tho 
(.'atholii iiiniinity." 

Till*  .\'''"-  Yii'l:  7'inif^  ^ay^:    '    \  welcome  ho()|<  to  any  t'hri'lia'i  " 

The  lii-'lo)!  I'Udt  says :  "  .\ll  hreiitliis  ii  truly  Catholic  spirit,  and  udmirahly  adapted 
to  h«'  siinu'  or  read  with  plca-urc  and  |irollt." 

'I'ln-  luillinutii'  Sini  says:  This  work  has  been  prei)ared  with  great  caro  and  ta.sto, 
and  is  jirintcd  and  hound  in  heautifiil  style." 

LITTM-:  CWTIIOI.IC  IIVMN'-BOOK,  fur  Schools  and  private  ii.se. 
C.^TllOLK^  IIY.MN  r.OOK:  a  Collectioii  of  Hymns,  .\iit!H-in<.  iVe., 

for  all  Holy  Daysoftthliiratioii  and  Devotion  tllroll^hout  the  Year.   .■t'.'mo..eloth,  25  c. 

(WTIIOMU  ("ll()iI.\LIST;  ;i  Si-lectioii  (.f  ('atli(.lie  Hymn  Tiiiie.-^, 

and  Litanies  set  to  Music.     '.Mmo.,  neat  paper  hindintr,  !>  cents. 

I'OOP.    M.\N'S   (WTKCIIISM;    or.  The  ("hristian  Doctrine  E>:- 

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THINK  WELL OX'T.  Hy  thelit.Kev.  Bishoi.Cii.M.i.o.NEi:.  Cloth,  19 
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liL'lit  Ki-v.  Wii.i.iAM  Wai'^ii,  I).  I>..  15i>li..p  of  |[iilif!i\.     I'.l.-.'antly  i)rfiit<'.l  on  (li«> 

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iihif  Miijii'fh  A'/i(//'(/r///(/.v  of  till' liiirli' ■  I  )lni>li  aiul  hvanty,  from  (loi^rii-*  of  Over- 

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liroirnsnn's  I'l'iifir  says :— "  A  vuliimi' which,  for  illustrations,  lottor-prpss  mmI 
liindini:,  is  nnsurpa.-sed  l>y  any  of  the  fa-ldonalile  annuals  of  the  conntrv,  ami  a  sidtnhle 
(iltl  Itook  for  tlie  holydiiys,  or  any  si'a.vin  of  the  yiar.  'I'here  can  lie  no  doubt  tlio 
t'atholie  Otlerln^'  will  he  a  favorite." 

The  l^nhliii  '/'(////'/ say.-':— "'riiis  i^  a  mairnllleent  //r/'f"  r/** /«,r  which,  inileed,  does 
hiirh  ercilit  to  the  <  'atholic  pros  of  New-  York  ;  eleirantly  printed,  with  iiluiinnated  title 
natfes.  and  pre-entaliun  llv  leaf,  |)rol'usely  ad<irned  with  enirravinu's.  and  arrayed  ineostly 
bindini:  of  azure  and  ^old.  The  work  itself  is  snllieienlly  reeoiniiiended  to"  the  favor  (if 
tlu!  Catholie  puhlie  as  the  composition  of  the  endneiit  l(i.>liop  of  Halifax.  Kaehjrreat  festi- 
val liius  an  arti<"le  devoted  to  it,  written  with  jrreat  fervor,  and  thu  misculliineous  jiajiers 
are  very   interest iiiL'." 

Tlie  I'ttlliolU;  Mirror  !^i\\n: — "Tlieapiiearance  of  this  volume  beiiins  a  new  era  in  tlio 
nniuilsof  Knirlish  Catholic  l.iteratnii-.  'I  he  contents  are  from  the  pen  of  the  eiidneiit 
Iti^rht  Itev.  I>i>liop  Walsh,  well  ktmwn  f  >r  his  lear!i'""  auil  literary  ability,  and  may  bo 
read  at  all  times  with  pleasure  ami  prolit.  In  meehaniod  !»p]iearanee.  it  is  far  superior 
t<i  any  publication,  a>  far  as  w  ,•  know,  that  has  appeared  from  the  Catholic  press  in  Knt'- 
jand  or  America.  It  is  a  splendid  volume,  which  all'ords  lui  opportunity  at  llio  liolyday 
season  or  any  other  lime  of  proviin;  a  tJil't  Hook  for  clii  dreii  or  friemls." 

'J'/ifi  Ciitholii'  llerohi  says : — •*  Decidedly  the  most  splemlid  work  that  hius  issued  from 
the  Catlidlie  I'les-s  in  America" 

LENTEN     MANU.\L,    AND     COMPANION    FOIl    TASSION 

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Tin:  Mi:i,(»N s  ;» 

Tin;  IMMI!  (ilKI s  !• 

Tin;  DAISY h  <j 


Tin:  FiiM' ri.Y .»>  o 

Tin;  <Ai:i:ii:i:  iM(n:oN...    s  vii 

Tin:  (ANAuv  liiiM*  r  ij* 

Tin:  WATKIMTIIIIKU...     7  l.'* 
(  I. A  i:  A,  or  the  Ued  ami  Whito 

i:.'-es    S  Vi\ 

ANSKI.MO 12  I.'. 

Tin;  i:»t>i:  r.fsii m  i.', 

Tin:  m;sT  imikimtanck  «  i.'> 

IS 


Tin:  LITTI.i:  I,AMI5 10 

liouiid  in  handsome  <dotli  \  olumes.  at  -.'>,  .'O,  and  7.')  ciMits  each  vidume. 

i;f  THE  HOME  i.ir.i{.\i:v. 

*  SitiM/or  Gift  liooks  <£•  I'rhfs^nn  ivell  tin  f'orF.iiiii/;/  li>iiiti»g,8i-html  I.ihrit)'ifi>,S.o. 
\]      Zr.NO.sirs rxi    .III.IA  nKM(»NI»    Hs 

\)     K.vTiiKu  I'KLix.... ns   Tin:  i;li>i;i:s  iiorsK jts 

','     ti;ai:s  on  tiii:  ihakk.m ns   ,ii;ssii;  i.indkn jw 

*  TII"KM;KKKY  AISUKY ;;s     IUA.NK:  or. 'Ih.' Painter's  Profn-oss..  :H 

'i      Tin:  SISTKi:  or  CIIAIMTY   7r»     TASHION;  or,  Slska  Von  Ko..>emael.  as 

/^       SHAXDY   M-(irntE,    <.i;   TRICKS    II'OX   TIJAVEEEEKS. 

A  Story  of  the  North  of  Iicland.     I>y  I'aii.  I'ki'im-.U(;i!ass,  1:s<i.     1  vtdiime  ItJmo.     In 
half-cloth  bindiii;;,  .'JD  cents;  full  cloth,  uilt  baek.s,  75  cents. 

,*  "Shandy  M'(iidi-e'"  is  emidiatieally  a  -Story  i>f  the  .North  of  Ireland."     The  jdot  is 

'i  maiidy  laid  in  the  heart  of  the  eonnty  I'oneiral.  and  the  eharaeteristie  life  of  that  remote 
reL'ion  is  beautifully  portrayed  The  fair  ami  the  llL'litin'_'.  the  L'anjrer  ami  llie  illicit  still 
— the  Oran^'emeii  and  Kibbonmeii — the  irraspiii!.' ac'iit  ami  the  >-nlI'eriiii.' eottau'er— the 
Priest  of  the  People,  and  the  proselyting  Minister  cd"  the  Kstabli.slied  (.'liurcli,  are  all 
successfully  and  striki:ij.'ly  portrayed. 

ANXn:  AND  HER  AENT.     Ily  a  Convert.     IHino.     2.-)  cents. 

.iH',^  T\\(i  Jioxhni  y/A// says: -"Tills  is  a  i.'ood  litthi  story — (]uilo  suitable  for  Cat Imlic 

children.     Annie  is  a  little  Catholic  t,'irl  wlio  is  thrown  into   Protestant  society,  and,  of 

,iH' .  course,  temi>!ed  in  various  ways  to  deny  her  faith,  or  to  disobey  the  Church.  She  resists 
heroically,  and  she  is  rewardi'd  at  the  end.  We  think  that  she  >ias  siitHeiently  .senipu- 
lous  about  the  birthday  party.  ISut  Anine  is  a  good  girl,  ami  we  cordially  introduco 
lier  to  our  youni;  reade.-.s, 

DOUAY  CATECHISM.     18ino.     Coinpo.sed  in  1(U!>,  l.y  tlie  Rev. 
Henkv  Ti'iTT':iivii.i,k.  D.  1).,  of  the  Knglish  College  of  Douay.    Approved  by  tho 
lit  Hev.  Uknedict  limiiuf,  of  Uoston. 
Paper  binding 12^    Leather  backs 19 

MOST  REV.  JAMES  BUTLER'S  CATECHISM.    5  cents. 
■»B)    CATECHISM;  or,  Abridgment  of  tho  Christian  Doctrine.    Scents. 


\\\ 


^ 


XEW  SPANISH  CATECHISM. 

EL  CATECISMO  DE  LA  DOCTRIXA  CRISTIAXA.     Approved 

by  tho  Ut  Rev.  Bishop  Alkmanv,  D.  1).,  BLshop  of  Monterey  and  California.     Gl 

DE    FEXSO    DE   AIGUXOS    PUXTOS    DE   LA    DOCTItlXA 

CATIIOLICO.    ISmo.      Approved  by  tho  lU.  Rev.  Bisiiof  Ai.kmanv,  1).  I).     ftO 

LIFE  OF  PETER  CLAVER,  OF  THE  SOCIETY  OF  .lESlS.     0^ 


,1 


n 


PUBLISHED  BY  DUNIGAN  &  BROTHER. 


I  I 


h 


EDWARD  DITNI(;AN  1-  BROTUfJJ, 

151  Fulivp    'ittwt, 
iiAVi:  juar  Pi'iiLisiiRh  IS  tl     •;   uNosoMt:  volumes. 

Crown  Octavo — Piicc  §2  T.), 

THE  PRACTICE  OF  CHRISTIAN  AND  RELIGIOUS  PERFECTION, 

Bv  Alpiionsus  Rodriguez,  ok  the  Sooicty  of  Jesus 


r 

I 
1 

^^ 

(I 


"In  tliis  Pxct'Uont  work,"  says  Albaii  IWitltT,  iii  liis  Lives  of 
the  Saints,  .July  31s(,  "  liucirii,aU'Z  i^atlHTcd  and  ili;;vsti'(l,  in  a 
clear  and  easy  nu'tliod,  the  most  adiniralde  maxims  and  lessons 
of  tlie  ancient  monks;  and  havini^  trained  u|>,  acconiinij  to 
them,  tile  novices  of  ins  ordt-r  in  Spain,  died  ijoiily,  in  the  year 
1010,  in  tlie  ninetieth  year  of  liis  age." 

No  description  can  do  justice  to  tlie  merits  of  this  vahiable 
work,  no  esiimato  over-calculate  the  extensive  good  it  has 
elfected.  IVaised  and  studied  hy  the  most  eminent  Saints  and 
Fathers  of  a  s|>iritual  life,  it  has  been  translated  into  the  vernacu- 
lar language  of  every  ])olite  nation  in  Kurope.  I  >igested  and 
arranged  with  an  ability  and  candor  never  surpassed,  this  work 
proves  that  the  author  possessed  a  perfect  kn(nvleilge  of  the  jjcart 
of  men.  lie  insinuates  himself  into  its  utmost  recesses;  he  explores 
and  lays  ojkmi  every  avenue  to  inspection  ;  he  delineates  the 
ati'ections,  describes  the  causes  of  the  corruption,  and  displays 
the  inward  workings  of  the  mind  with  such  ex<|uisite  skill,  pre- 
cision, and  clearness,  that  every  reader  who  has  departed  from 
the  ways  of  virtue,  beholds  an  exact  delineation  of  his  defections, 
as  if  the  book  had  been  written  for  him  alone.  At  the  same 
time,  he  points  out  the  grand  and  sublime  contemph-ftions  which 
elevate  the  soul,  and  tix  her  attention  immovablv  on  the  im- 
portant  truths  of  salvation,  which  he  so  accurately  illustrates,  so 
if  resistibly  inculcates. 

This  book  contains  within  itself  the  germ  of  perpetuity,  writ- 
ten to  bo  read  centuries  hence — not  destined,  like  the  epheme- 
ral j>roductions  of  a  day,  lo  be  read  and  forgotten — it  still  stands 
and  will  ever  remain,  a  monument  and  model  of  Christian  and 
Catholic  morality,  approximating  in  a  closer  degree  to  the  mor- 
ality of  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  than  any  cilier  work 
that  has  vet  emanated  from  the  hand  of  man. 


I! 


:.s:is  SJ^riaJ^EaiJt^  • 


i  VOLUMKS, 

S  PERFECTION, 

V  Jesls 


,  ill  his  Lives  of  '  r 

d  (.lioesU'<i,  in  a  ' ,) 
;ims  aiul  lessons 

i|),   according  to  ^; 

olily,  in  the  year  - 

4  of  this  valuable    ' 
ve   good    it    lias 
incnt  Saints  and    . 
into  the  vernacu- 
».      I  digested  and 
jtassed,  tiiis  work 
(.'i\(XH  of  the  lieart 
losses;  he  explores 
le   delineates   the 
on,  and  displays 
Luisito  skill,  pre- 
is  departed  from 
of  his  defections, 
At  the  same 
mplfftions  which 
nbly  on  the  im- 
,elv*  illustrates,  so 

perpetuity,  writ- 
like the  epheme- 
^•n — it  still  stands 

if  Christian  and 
I'nive  to  the  mor- 
li  Miiv  oiluT  work 


;? 


wouKS  riiiLisiii:i)  hy  DrxiGAX  &  iuiotiii:!:. 


Following  ok  CIIKIST.     Now  and  IVaulilul  Kditi..!).  lMiiiu. 

Tni?i(ilufo<l  friuii  tli<^  firlffiiuil  l.iitln  "f'l'iinMAS  A  Kkmi'm.     Ily  llu<  Kt.  IJov.  lil'liop 

C'liallotiir.  with  ;»  \h-w  traii-'liillnn  uf;i  I'mcticiil   Kcllcctloti  uii<l  I'nivpr  .it  tlio  fcn<l"f  "i 

Crtdi  eliaptt  r.     Kinin  ilu-  In-ii'lt  xfllt-v.  K.  I)k  (loNNKrur,  S,  .1.  fii 

J.> 

lII<hof>  Clmlloiior's  ti-iin!«lallon  <if  tlils  Invniiialtio  work  Im*  ovor  Ix-f  n  niiifl(lirp<l  tliu  ,, ' 

liont  over  iimili"  by  man,  ami  the  lu  w  tr!m«lHti<»nH  of  tlio  IJclliTiltins  iiinl   I'rnycr  frmii  \''' 

tin*  Frriicli  ol'  I'alliiT  <it>mitHiii.  \<y  imc  nf  iho  l>o«t  srlmlurs  in  liii-t  coiiiilry.  ila'aiMliion  j'' 

of  wlilcli  it  !■«  liii|i.'il  will  ri-ml.r  llii.t  new  hihI  l-enjitidil  cilillnh  oii^  of  tlio  iiio.^t  atlraoiivi*  5 

VoIUIIK  H  oVtT  (MllilUllOtl,  S 

IIati<l'«(>iiio  cldili  l.iniiiiiff,  I  plato   i\'\  J 

Aiiiirii'aii  iii'irocco   f.O  f 

Amoricaii  Miorocoo,  full  gilt  cdpcs  and  Rldi-s,  0  plates 7.">  h 

Tiirkry  inoiocco,  •rill  c.ll:<•^  fi  plates 1  :>i)  J 

Tiirkny  inoron'o,  .•"iiiior  «>xtra,  nilt  edgos,  9  (liates U  u<i  f 

FOLLoWlNci  OK  flFlilST.     :]'2mo.     Clioap  IMilion.     IV.m  the  S 
original  Lntin  of  Thomas  a  Kkmph.     Uy  tlio  Ut.  (lev.  nisliop  ("liallonor.  ^ 

Cloth  lilndin? 25  ^ ' ' 

Cloth,  gilt  ciliii-s .  . .  .M)       I:: 

END  OF   JIKLKilors   CONTIIOVKUSV.     I,,  a  tVuii.lly  .•..riv-  C 

spondoiipc  l)olwcon  a  nli^rions  Society  of  Protcitanf',  ami  n  Catholie  l)ivlnc'.     Ily  ] 

till'  Ut.  Kov.  tloii.N  -Mii.NKi!,  I).  I'.     I'riiitnl  from  tho  ln«l  edition  nvised  l>y  tin*  5 

Author.     l'2mo.  ^  3 

Pronounood  by  eminent  jii(l;..'OS  the  greatest  C'enfrorerslal  Work  ever  wrilton.  ^ 

Price  in  neat  Taper  Ijin.liiig 2r»  ( 

Price  in  Cloth  Hacks 8^  ^, 

Price  in  full  Cloth :.')  ]\' 

CATHOLIC    CIIIIISTIAN    INSTllCCTFI)    IN    THE     SA(i:.\- 

MKNTS.    SACinriCICS,    CKItKMONIKS,    AND    ORSKKVANCES    OF   TIIK 
CllCUCir.    Hy  Most  Kt.  Pvov.  Dr.  CIIA1.I.ONF.K,    ISmo. 

Nent  Paper  P)in(ling 19 

Half  Cloth  IJindinp:, '2.1 

EuU  Cloth  IJindlng, RS 

DOCTRINAL  CATECniS>r.  By  the  Rev.  8rEPnKN  Kf.knan.  IHrno. 

Paper, '25      [^\j 

Half  Cloth  Bindinp, :tl  <' 

Full  Cloth  Binding, .V»      } 

YOl'Tirs  DIRKCTOR,  OR  FAMILIAR  INSTRrcTfoXS  F(Mt  ;f 

VOUNO  PKOPLK,  which  will  be  found  useful  to  persons  of  every  ngc,  m-x.  and       iif 
condition  of  life.    21mo.  f\j 

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The  pure  morality  and  relieion  which  thi^  little  Mainiul  of  moral  in-itriiclion  iiicnlc;it«»«'.      j 
render  it  peculiarly  adapted  to  tli*  instruction  of  old  and  yoim;.'  in  [iractical  Christianity       ^ 


K 


iJ' 


'il 


nrXICAN   it   liliOTIIER, 

l.M   I'n.ioN  sriiKii.  nkak  Ukoakway, 

AUK  IlK-fMIlLlsmNU    Wiril    rilK  AIMMiOllATlON  (H"  TlIK 

MOST  lii:V.  .KHIX  lirailKS,    I).    />., 

AllClIlMSllor  or  NKW-VOUK, 

TIM-:  xi-w  AND  (Mii:\r  cLirrox  tkacts, 

Now  ill  fi>urs(>  111"  PiiMlffitioii  ii\  I.iitnliiii,  liy  tlic  l>ri>||icilioii(I  of  SI.  Niiicfiit  of  I'liiil, 
niiclcr  llio  >iiunlioii  of  \\w  l>i--lio|i  ni'  tlifioM.  miiiI  willi  llu'  a|>|iroli!itioii  of  CariUiiiil 
WiscMAN,  and  all  llu-  ('niliolii-  UMio|is  nf  jjiirJaiiil. 

'I'liU  SiTii'S  of  'rn><'t><  \v.i-<  oriiriii:il''il  ^iili  lIu'  \'w\\  of  •iiipiilyiiii.'  ;i  want  lon^;  aiul 
p'lUTiilly  fi'lf  of  a  iMimltiT  of  1  III:  \i'  -lii.;l<'  riil>lli':ilioii>i,  wliirli,  at  tlic  siiiiio  tiim»  t'-iif 
llicy  alVi»ri|ri|  ii>iifiil  rrailiiiL:  to  ('atl'olii'>i,  ainl  lln'  nimn'roiis  cimvcrls  that  from  all  sidi's 
nro  lu'lii;;  ;:atlifrcil  into  tin'  fold  of  ilii'  Climcli.  iiiL'lit  al-^o  fiinn<li  iniinircrs  witli  a  plain 
and  simplo  statiMiii'iit  of  Catliolir  doi-iriiu',  priiifipli'x,  and  p-ariicc,  to^Ttlu-r  »1tli  an 
»'\posiii'i>  of  I'rolcstaiil  errors,  and  a  n't'iilatioii  of  sonif  al  liM-t  anion;;  the  many  al»nrd 
and  fooli''li  i'!iar::t's  lironu'lit  au'ain-<t  llic  «'atliolic  rcliuioii. 

Notliini:  over  writti'H  in  tin-  laiiilisli  laiiirnafr'' i>  so  adniiraMy  adiptoil  for  Ri'noral 
(1islril>iilion,  and  dr  sprcailiii:.'  a  knowli'di^.-  of  tin-  u'iimI  iinilis  of  iin-  ('alliolii'  ri'li;jion. 
its  tins  Sciii's  iif  Tracts,  liiju.'  wrillcii  wlili  rare  aMlily  an  I  caii-,  and  in  tlio  ln'st  possildo 
spirit  ofcliarilv.  /oal.  anil  ^-ixid  taste,  and  il  \<  hoped  I'ley  will  win  their  way  into  every 
family,  lus  eaeli  Traet  diseiisses  in  a  inasierly  and  eoiideiised  manner  .a  single  sul>j»'ct 
only.  Tlii'lr  diversity,  emhraein:;  as  they  do,  lli^torieal.  Controversial,  and  l>evotional 
Sulijects  inn^t  reiwler  them  al>o  liiirhly  ;iltraeli\e  not  nnly  to  the  Catliolie  tint  to  the 
freneral  reaiier.  They  are  piildished  in  a  neat  anil  attraetive  style  and  form,  with  beau- 
tiful type  and  ::ooii  paper,  and  sold  mi  I'lll'.AI'  in  priee  that  they  can  iiardly  fail  l«)  meet 
Willi  a  lar^re  I'ireiilatioii. 

The  /.(>>/'/iKi /'if;;('7>'.'' says : — "The  matter  so  i>\eel!ent  and  priee  so  Inw  that  tlioy 
imist  do  iiie.alenlal'le  L'ood.  Th<'re  is  soinetldnu'  in  the  lone  of  these  little  e<says.  llrni, 
chi'erfnl,  ami  tainrilile,  most  oppusite  to  the  morhid,  Ldonniy  eseiiemeiit  of  tlie  tracts, 
which  have  so  Imiir  circulated  anion::  tin-  intelliL,'ent  of  oil  r  |ioor,  iriviin;  'the  'i>rri>r\'  as 
we  are  told  hy  Mr.  M.iyhew,  to  such  .i-  were  entrapped  into  readiiii;  tlieiii  -most  Djipo- 
.site  will  he  their  elVeei,  if  tliese  should  iret   into  a  wide  cir<'iilatloii.'' 

The  (''iitholi,-  Misi;//ii)iii  says:  •■  What  surjirises  iis  is,  that  those  li.uidsome  jnildlea- 
tions,  printt'd  in  siu-h  neat  style,  can  he  sold  lie"  such  a  iritliiiLi;  sum  as  four  and  six  cents 
I'ai'h.  We  sincerely  advise  oiir  i'.itliolii'  t'riends  w  ho  art-  thrown  daily  into  tin  six-iety 
of  IVotestants,  and  who  are  harassed  hy  a  mnltitiide  of  controversial  quest  ions,  sometiiin-s 
]iiit  t'ortli  with  a  sinister  purpose  or  in  a  spirit  of  e.indid  iinpiiry,  to  pnrelia.se  tliese  tracts: 
mill  at'ler  iiiTiisiii:;  them,  to  lend  them  to  their  Protectant  aciiiiaintanccs.  They  will 
p"l  more  than  the  wiirth  of  tln-ir  money,  and  will,  he-.ides  their  own  advaiitane  in  the 
way  of  instruction,  have  the  merit  jirohahly  of  heiii;;  iiistriimciital  ni  LMidiin:  otiiers  to 
th  '  woiidcil'iil  liu'ht  of(5od"s  kinL'doiii,  and  silcnciiij- eil'ectnally  many  of  iho:.»' ohjeotions 
which  are  daily  made  to  our  more  |irominent  doetri'ies."' 

The  Phila  lelphia  Catholic  IfiiiU  s.iys:  "Dnni^r.in  .t  r>roiiier  are  pntilishitiir  .i 
S(>rics  of  most  valnahli'  C"al  olic  Tracts,  in  an  excecil  Ji^'ly  iie.al  form,  mi  siihji'cts  u|iiin 
whicli  ewry  V'atholie  shoiilil  he  wed  informed,  so  a.s  to  be  able  to  iiu'ct  the  objections  of 
iMir  dis'enliii:;  brethren." 

Tlie  New-York  Truth  Tfl/t'r  ■>i\\^:  " 'i'liese  Catholic  Tracts  c.innot  be  too  stron^rly  re- 
commended. Tiiey  liave  done  ::ood  work  in  I'lnrland.  and  an-  written  with  a  v  iroron*. 
yet  |ileasini,' and  i'<>rdial  jieii :  and  are  as  far  removed  t'roni  the  venomous  f.uiatieisnt 
^.'eneraliy  found  in  tracts,  as  t  icy  aru  allied  tot;ood  feelinu;  and  Kcniaiily." 

Tie  IMiiladelpliia  Catholic  /uiiti'iK'tor  says:  "  We  have  not  in  a  lonir  time  seen  any 
niii.iH  works  from  which  lari.'er  advantaije  to  (.'atholies  may  be  derived,  tliaii  this  idie.ap 
serii's  of  Catholic  Tract.s.  now  in  course  (if  ]inblicatioii  in  a  neat  form  by  I>nni<!aii  A 
Hrotlier.  .Ml  Catholics  in  tlie  habit  of  oouversln;;  with  I'rotostaiit*,  und  all  rrotvsUiutd 
nnxious  to  discover  truth,  shoii'.tl  read  these."  : 


<! 


i 


!> 


lER, 

ON  tH'  TIIK  »         ^ 

S  TKACTS, 

if  St.   VitKVUt   of  r:iul. 
I>|.ri>liiitii>n  i>r  fanliiKil 

ilyiiiu'  ;i  «:»'"'  1"'<'-J  "'"' 
lit  tlu>  sMino  timo  t'-it 
MTis  tli:it  from  :ill  siilrs 
I  iii>iuiri  rs  wiili  n  \<\n'u\ 
ctici'.  tiiirftlior  *1ili  an 
immi;:  llif  many  al>>unl 

Illy  ail.ii.tf.l  for  ir.-iu'nil 
of  111.'  Cittli-'lii"  rcli^tii'M. 

ami  ill  till'  lust  (lossililo 
I  ill  tluir  way  into  »>vtry 
iiiaiiiuT  a  siii:;li'  milijoet 
ivorsini,  ami  Kcvotimial 

tlio  rntlii>li<>  I'lit  tt>  till- 
lie  mill  foriii,  with  bi-uii- 
y  call  lianily  fail  to  iiii'ot 

1  ]>rioi'  so  low  tliat  tlioy 
llu'S.>  liltio  «Msays.  linn, 
oiifimnt  of  till-  tracts, 
■ziviiii;  ■  tin-  'iirrurs,'  as 
iliiiu'  tlioiii  -most  opiio- 
.n," 

|iio-A.«  liaiiilsoiiio  |>ul>HiM- 
iiii  as  four  ami  six  cciils 
II  daily  iiit>>  Hi'  siM-icty 
al  <iiu'stions,  soinotiiiii-s 
o  jmrcliaso  tlu'sc  tracts: 
jiiiaiiilaiiccs.  Tlicy  will 
Ir  own  ailvaiila^c  in  tlic 
al  111  LMi<lliii:  others  t<> 
iiaiiy  of  tlio:-»'  olijcclioii> 

lotlior  arc   imhlishiiii:  :i 
Voiiii.  on   siiliji'cts   ii|>i>n_ 
meet  tiif  olijcctioiis  of 


Innot  lu>  toostron;:Iy  n- 

M'ittcn  with  a  v  ^oroii". 

venomous  fanatic isii*. 

I'liiality."' 

(in  a  lorn:  <iiii<*  "<'»'"  «">' 
I  ri\c.l.  than  this  cheap 
Jt  form  hv  Piiniiran  A 
|iit«,  uiiil  .i:i  I'rotwsUiuu 


M 


TIIK    NI'W    AND  rilKAP   CLirrOX   TIIACTS,     1] 

WITH  Tilt;  \l'l'l!i>n\THiN  HKTIli:  M<)-iT  i:l.V.   \ltrllll|S||i)|>it|-  nkw-vouk. 

1.— UOSAKY  or  TIIK   r.LKSSKI)   VIUHIV   M  AUV.  an.l  the  Is,.  ,.f  tho  Heads  no 
"vain  Ueiielilioii."     I'l  i I  cents. 

2.   TiiKtMinicn,  Tin;  tir.MiniAN  oi  riii;  <i  imiti'ima    i  <vnt.-». 
n.    TIIK  «'m  i;(  II,  TIIK  witnkss  ok  riii;  si  i:inri:i;s.    le.nt.s. 

•I.     Tin;  fllCKCII.  A  KIVCIHIM.      I  ,.,  nl^.  < 

.\-TIIK  riiriM  II.TIIK  |t|<rKNSKi:  ol-  -CIMI'rriJK;  or.  An- (it  hollcH  allowed       !" 

to  n  :i,|  111.-  r.ll.ie.       I  c.  Ills.  c'^ 

«;.-  TIIK  t  IIIi;iII,  Tin:  I\rKi:l'UKTKIioK  >^<  IMI'ITUK;  ..r.  Ilowdowokm.w       ]•: 

wllJlt   till'    ItiMc  llleMII-i.       I  Ci'llW, 

7      I'KoTKSTANTISM    WKKIIIKO     IN    11-   OWN'    r.AL\N<I",    ANI>    rol'NI) 

\\A\TI\(;  :    ihe  I'.il.le  and  Hie  I'.IMe  onl.\.       t  e.tlls 
S. -I'lIoTKSTAN  riSM   \VKHilli;i>,  \c,  :  the  (  Imnl,.      |  e.nls. 
9.     I'i:oTKSTAN'TI<M   WKHillKM,  Ac. :  the  Sacraments.     C  eent«. 

10.  I'i;t»ri:sr\\||SM   WKKMIKD.  \e:   Devotl-.n  loSalnlsand  Aiii.'eN.     4  cents. 

n.    iM:ori:<r.\\ri>M  \vki(;iii;i),  .Ve. :  iii.^.ii.ivniacv  of  «;i.  I'ei.r.    i  cents. 

IJ.     r.KNKItlCTION'   OK  TIIK   Mo«.  r    iJoKV    ^ArKXMK.NI';  ..r.   What  CiilliollcH 

do  ulicii  the  c.'ilidles  .■ire  lii,'lili'l      •"•  Ciiil-. 
l:;      Till.  CATIIol.ir  MI«.<Io\  \|;V.      Ihe  .I.smIi- in  Kaivcnay.     C,  <eiiis. 

11.  TIIK  fATIIol.IC   .MISSION  \i;V.      Kaih.r  Cl.uer  ii  Imlia.      I  c.  i,t«. 

1.'.  -now  i>ii>  K\<;i,\Ni>  r.KcoMK.  <a  iimi.M    am>  now  hid  knc.kani* 

in.i'oMK  l'i;orK>i|'ANT:'     i\    cent-. 

If..  -<)IKK\  M  M;V  AM)  lIKi:  IM.oI'M;       Th.'  Smithll.  I.I  Kins.     C,\  cents. 

IT      (.tKKKN    MAUV    AND    IIKU    l'Kt»l'I,K.       How     Maiy    ies|„ro.|    tho    Catholic 
lleliirion.     til  cents. 

ly  — II(»W  TIIK  roI'K  I'.KC  \MK  A  KINC.  The  K.  ..|.h-.l,MTte.l  l.y  Ih.ir  Kiil.r^  'tots. 

10.  -now    rilK  I'ol'K  IJKCAMK  A  KIMi.     The  Kail  of  I'a-aii  Kome.      I  ecnt.s. 

H».— now  TIIK  riU'K  I'.KCAMK  A  KINiJ.     Th.- IVopK'clioos,.  a  Protector,     t  ccntn.      (•' 

'21.— COIMM'S  CIIIMsri:  or,  the  l'.a>t  oftli.'  must  Holy  Saeiam.nt      •»  e      's. 

'i2.— cnitlSTMAS  I>AV  ;  whose  I'.iith.lav  is  it  f     I  cents. 


'J 


EDWARD  DUNIGAN  &  BROTHER'S 

VALUABLE    EDUCATIONAL    PUBLICATIONS. 


Ni:W  SPELLING  BOOK. 


THE    PRACTICAL    SPELLING-BOOK. 

l'2ino.   llalf-lioiind,  ICS  pii^ros  124  cts. 

Tlio  prcfit  nilv!inta<:i'.H  iiossrssod  by  flui  "I'mctical  Sju'IHnff-llook"  over  all 
•itlicr  books  iiDW  in  ii>c.  is  tin'  rulnoss  with  wliidi  the  Vowel  and  Dipli- 
tlionpJ  sounds  are  trcatcil  in  its  U'ssons.  thus  rondorinjr  tlie  first  »t('|)S  to- 
wards knowlcd;,'^  foiii|inrativi-ly  easy,  and  the  pmirri'ss  of  the  learner  sure  aa 
well  as  rapid :  and  to  this  may  l)e  added  another  of  hardly  less  importance,  the 
relief  atl'ordeil  t'l  the  motiotiiny  of  tlio  s[icllinf;  Ux'^ons  by  siiort  exen'i.-e<  in 
reiulinu'.  from  the  writinu's  of  those  holy  and  i)racticMl  men,  St.  Vincent  de  Paul, 
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l'j>wAKi)  Di'sniAN  tt  HitornKi:  aUn  besr  to  inform  the  Catholics  of  tlio 
I'nited  States.  Canada,  Are,,  iliat  thev  have  pnrelia^eil  from  Mr.  ICiii'ene  Com- 
misUey.of  l'lMhideli)hia,  the  Stereoty'iie  Plates  of  all  the  CATHOLIC  SCMIOCL 
liOOKS  piil>li>hed  by  him;  and  they  resiiectfiilly  be;;  to  call  the  attention  o' 
the  Kt.  IJev.  I!i>hops,  Kev.  Cli'rj.'y.  and  all  inleresied  in  Catholic  Ivlncalion,  to 
their  new  editions  just  issued,  'i'hey  woiiM  esiiecially  rerinot  atlenlioii  li>  tlio 
series  of  the 

CHRISTIAN  BROTHERS'  BOOKS, 
whifli  have  rec(dved  .such  universal  .■i[»proliatii>n  from  the  IJt.  I'ev.  ltisho[)S  and 
the   Kev.  Clei-fiy  in  every  pari  of  the  world   where  the  Knirlish   lan^'uapo  ifi 
spoken.    These  new  editions  are  also  iiuLIlshud  niider  the  diatingni.shed  appro- 
bation of  the 

BlIOTUni:  IMt(iVIN('I.VL  OK  THE  IIK0TI1EK3  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN  8C1IOOU8  IN  AMEKIOA. 


DUNIGAN  &  BROTHER'S  CHEAP  EDITIONS. 

CllIMSTIAN  r.ltOTUKltS'  Isl    l!(.ok.     l-^mo 4 

])<)  do  '2il     Hooi:.     Ilalt-t.oiind 10 

1)0  do  lid    hook.     Half-bound 87| 


DUNIGAN  &  BROTHER'S  NEW  AND  IMPROVED  EDITIONS. 

Nfany  teachers  who  have  used  this  series  baving  cxi)ressed  ft  desire  to  iiave 
Spelling  le.ssoiis  printed  with  dellnilions  and  accentuations  in  the  Second  and 
Third  iSooks,  these  are  printed  witband  without  them,  so  that  teachers  can  uso 
which  tliey  prefer. 

CHRISTIAN  I'.ItOTHKUS'  1st    I'.ook.     Improved  Kdition «{ 

I)..  do  'Jd     Hook.  do        do  12i 

Do  do  S<1     IJook.  do        do  60 

Do  do  4lli  IJook.  do        do  02^ 

CATHOLIC  riMM I'll S 

Do        SCh'ooT,  HOOK 15 

INIVr.ltSAL  1:KAI)I.N'(;  hook.     Stronirbalf-leatherbindinff.     TJmo.     ii'\ 
'I'his  valuable  School    liook  was  oriLMnally  srof   up  by  the  Didilin  (.'jith«dl« 
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OF.NKHAL  liISTOUV  oF  Klliori;,  from  tlio  bou'iniwnir  of  tbo  Kith 

century  to  |s.'j4.    I'.'nio 15 

New  I'.dilion.  revised  and  improved:  by  .1.  C  «<hen,  Kstj. 
This  eelebmti'd  Work  has  been  most  iiii.'lily  rei'iimmeiided.  adndred,  and  at:- 

proved.  by  th.'  most  <  iimpet*  iit  jud;:vs  in   Kii;;laiid  and  America  for  its  lidclity 

au'i  pur':y  of  htyle. 


i 


s 


Ci^Tms. 


lOOK. 


ng-Book"  ovf-r  all 
Vowel  nnd  Dipli- 
lio  first  steps  to- 
he  learner  sure  aa 
ss  iinportiuice,  tlio 
short  e.\i!n'l?-e<  in 
t.  Vincent  de  I'aiil, 
ilcil  for  the  voimg 
r  lilb  is  likely  ever 

("Mliiolics  of  the 
Mr.  I'JU'ciie  (Nmi- 
IIOLIC  SCHOOL 
ill  tlie  iittontion  i>'. 
lolio  Ivliieiilion,  to 
:6t  nllentiuii  to  iho 


liev.  IHshops  nnd 
iilJish  laiifruape  is 
>iingiii.sht'd  appro- 

lOOLS  IN  AMERICA. 

IONS. 

4 

10 

37* 

D  EDITIONS. 

I  ft  desire  to  have 
in  the  Second  and 
It  teaehcrs  c«n  use 


«l 

m 

50 

C2k 

8 

15 

diiiff.     I'.'nio.    A7\ 
e  Diihlin  ("atliollo 

hu'ss. 

r  of  the  Kjtli 
75 

I,  Ksq. 

.  ailinircd.  and  at:- 
Tica  lor  its  lldelitv 


